Sacramento State's Leap to the FBS: Bold Ambition or Risky Overreach?

Sacramento State is set to join North Dakota State as a fresh FBS addition in EA Sports College Football 27.

On February 16, 2026, Sacramento State officially accepted an invitation to join the Mid-American Conference as a football-only affiliate member starting July 1, 2026 — a five-year term that elevates the program from the FCS Big Sky Conference to the Football Bowl Subdivision. It marks the first West Coast program to make the FCS-to-FBS jump since San Diego State and Fresno State did it back in 1969. The Hornets will be replacing departing Northern Illinois and giving the MAC its first Pacific Time Zone foothold.

The move comes with a steep price tag: an $18 million entrance fee to the MAC (with $6 million due in Year 1) plus a $5 million NCAA transition fee, totaling $23 million. Additional terms include Sac State forgoing any conference revenue distributions and covering air travel costs for visiting MAC teams. The university's athletics budget sat at roughly $11 million last year, and the school faces a projected $2.9 million deficit. President Luke Wood has stated the fees will come from game guarantees and football-generated revenue — not student fees or the general fund — while a new NIL collective has raised tens of millions in pledges and stadium upgrades at Cal Expo are in the works.

The announcement has sparked intense debate. Supporters see a visionary program betting on itself to compete at the highest level. Critics call it financially reckless, geographically absurd, and a short-term gamble fueled by envy-worthy spending. Both sides deserve a fair hearing.

Aztecs Unveil 2026 Football Schedule: A New Era in the Pac-12 Begins

Image Credit: GoAztecs.com

The San Diego State Aztecs are officially on the clock for their Pac-12 debut, and the 2026 schedule has arrived with plenty of intrigue. Released jointly by the conference and the program on Wednesday night, this slate marks the start of a bold new era for SDSU under head coach Sean Lewis as the team transitions from the Mountain West to the revamped eight-team Pac-12. 
Featuring four non-conference games to open the year, a full seven-game round-robin league schedule, a timely bye, and a groundbreaking flex matchup to close the regular season, the calendar sets up exciting opportunities for road adventures, rivalry renewals, and potential postseason pushes.
The non-conference portion kicks off with a home opener against Portland State on September 5 at Snapdragon Stadium—a familiar FCS opponent the Aztecs crushed 52-17 back in 2007. The real test comes early with a September 12 road trip to UCLA in the Rose Bowl, where SDSU holds a memorable 23-14 upset win from 2019 but fell 35-10 in their most recent clash. Back home on September 19, the Aztecs welcome James Madison in the first-ever meeting between the programs; the Dukes were a 12-2 Sun Belt powerhouse in 2025, reaching the CFP before a loss to Oregon in the first round. The non-league slate wraps September 26 at Toledo, avenging a close 2022 win in San Diego against a Rockets team that's posted 16 straight .500-or-better seasons.