Sacramento State Football: Leaving Big Sky for FBS
Sacramento state football faces an uncertain future. Leaving the Big Sky for the Big west in 2026 creates a void for the team. The Hornets await a crucial NCAA decision regarding their application for FBS reclassification, a leap that hinges on securing a conference invitation. Currently, Sacramento State lacks this key element. The FBS Oversight Committee has recommended denying the waiver. A local group, “Sac12,” is actively working, hoping to elevate the program’s profile. For comprehensive insights, newsdirectory3.com offers additional, deeper-dive context. Discover what’s next for the Hornets’ gridiron aspirations.
Sacramento State Hornets Plan Big West Move; Football Future Murky
Updated June 18,2025
Sacramento State will leave the Big Sky Conference on June 30,2026,the league announced Thursday. The Hornets are expected to join the Big West Conference for all sports except football, beginning July 1, 2026. This move leaves the football program without a conference home as the school awaits a decision on its waiver application to reclassify as an FBS school next season.
the waiver hinges on the NCAA’s “bona fide invitation requirement,” which mandates an FBS conference invitation for reclassification. Sacramento State currently lacks such an invitation and would compete as an independent if it moves up.
The FBS Oversight Committee recommended denying the waiver request last week, with the Division I Council expected to make a final decision soon. The stakes are high for the Hornets and their enterprising plans for Sacramento State football.
last year, a group of Sacramento State boosters formed “Sac12,” an organization dedicated to elevating the athletic department’s profile to Pac-12 conference invitation standards.