The landscape of Mid-American Conference football is about to stretch across the country. In a move that President Luke Woods of California State University, Sacramento, called a bold leap into the future, the MAC formally announced on Feb. 16, 2026, that Sacramento State will join the conference as a football-only affiliate member.
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Hornets will officially become part of the MAC for a five-year term, marking a transition for the California-based institution from the Football Championship Subdivision to the Football Bowl Subdivision. For students and fans at Eastern Michigan University, this means a new, formidable opponent is entering the MACtion rotation — one that brings a legacy of success and a massive West Coast market into the fold.
A strategic addition to the MAC
The invitation to Sacramento State follows a shift in the conference roster after Northern Illinois University accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference. By adding the Hornets, the MAC maintains a 13-team football configuration for the 2026 season.
Scott Wetherbee, Eastern Michigan University’s vice president and director of athletics, played a central role in this expansion as the chairperson of the MAC Council of Directors of Athletics. Wetherbee praised the "forward-thinking leadership" of MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher, noting that "the addition of Sacramento State as a football-only member strengthens our conference and positions us well for continued collective success."
Steinbrecher echoed this sentiment and said the move is about strengthening our competitive profile and creating value for the membership. He highlighted Sacramento State’s demonstrated success in football and the university’s commitment to institutional growth.
The Hornet pedigree
Sacramento State is not entering the FBS as an underdog. The Hornets boast an impressive resume, including seven conference titles and three consecutive Big Sky championships from 2019 to 2022. They were one of only 12 FCS programs to win at least seven games in five of the last six seasons and held a top-25 national ranking for 50 weeks during that span.
Beyond the gridiron, Sacramento State is a powerhouse institution. Located in the capital of California, the world's fourth-largest economy, the university serves nearly 31,000 students. It has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as the second-most diverse campus in the Western United States.
The price of the leap
Stepping up to the highest level of college football is a major financial undertaking. Sacramento State’s cost of entry into the MAC is approximately $18 million, in addition to a $5 million fee paid to the NCAA to reclassify.
To fund this transition, the university will rely on increased game guarantees, corporate partnerships, ticket sales and new revenue streams such as merchandise and pouring rights. University officials said that Sacramento State will not use state funds to pay for the move to the MAC.
The move is expected to be an economic engine for the region. A study by Collegiate Consulting projects that the athletic economic impact will rise to $975 million. Perhaps most importantly for the campus community, 15% of new revenue starting in 2027 will go towards Academic Affairs.
Impact on students and fans
For EMU students, this expansion ensures that MAC football remains a fixture on national television. A key factor in Sacramento State’s decision was the MAC’s television contract with ESPN networks, which provides the national exposure necessary for a growing brand.
Sacramento State students will continue to receive free admission to home games, and the university is currently evaluating plans for a new stadium at Cal Expo while upgrading its current facility for the 2026 season.
While the football team heads east to the MAC, the majority of Sacramento State’s other 21 intercollegiate teams will join The Big West.
Looking ahead to 2026
The Hornets will be led into this new era by head coach Alonzo Carter, who was named to the position in December 2025. Carter, a native of Northern California with deep recruiting ties to the state, previously spent eight seasons at San Jose State University and the University of Arizona. Mark Orr, Sacramento State's director of athletics, said Carter is a proven leader who has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to developing student-athletes on and off the field.
As the 2026 season approaches, the MAC enters a period of dynamic transformation. By reaching across the country to secure a winning program in a major market, the conference — and leaders like EMU’s Wetherbee — are betting that the Hornets will become a competitive and contributing member of one of the nation's oldest Division I conferences.
As former Hornet Lorenzo Lynch said, the move is like waking up a sleeping giant.
