NCAA clears Sacramento State for postseason in FBS transition

The NCAA cleared Sacramento State for postseason play in its first season as an FBS transition team, erasing the automatic two-year ban and putting the Hornets in range of bowl eligibility and even the College Football Playoff if they qualify on the field. The Division I Cabinet approved the change June 24, and it took effect immediately. Sacramento State still has to finish 6-6 or better and satisfy one of its conference’s bowl commitments.

The move begins July 1, when Sacramento State becomes a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference and the rest of the school’s athletics programs stay in the Big West. The cost of the move is $23 million, including about $18 million to the MAC and $5 million to the NCAA. President Luke Wood called it “a historic moment” and said it was “more than a change in classification.”

The 2026 schedule already gives Sacramento State a path to matter nationally. The Hornets open Aug. 29 at Eastern Michigan, host Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 5, travel to Fresno State on Sept. 12, and welcome North Dakota State on Sept. 19. The rest of the slate includes home games against Massachusetts, Ohio, Kent State and Toledo, road trips to Ball State and Central Michigan, a Nov. 28 trip to Hawai’i, and the MAC Championship Game on Dec. 5 in Detroit. The Hornets have at least five national television appearances, the most in program history.

James Madison pushed for relief from the old two-year rule in 2023 after starting 10-0 and still got turned down. The new rule also keeps a path open to conference championship games and the College Football Playoff.

Sacramento State finished its FCS run with seven conference titles and four NCAA FCS playoff appearances.