Sacramento State is a proven FCS powerhouse. But It’s not ready for FBS | Opinion
The NCAA’s denial of Sacramento State’s request to join the highest level of college football was a harsh sting to the Hornets’ hype hive.
If you’ve driven around the city, you’d most likely see one of the billboards Sac State paid for to share the success of their athletics program. The one that caught my eye was Head Coach Brennan Marion tipping his cowboy hat and below it said that the program had the number one recruiting class in the Football Championship Subdivision. That’s a pretty big feat for a program with a new head coach and a team coming off a disappointing season.
Right now the biggest things that Hornets football have going for them is an energetic coach, the best recruiting class in their division and a hype train made possible by a spirited branding scheme.
But the reality that hit them in the face this week was that it doesn’t have the facilities, nor the money to compete in the most competitive college football division.
It’s not as if they don’t know that themselves.
Reality should sink in
In a 2023 athletic conference feasibility study conducted by the university, it was laid out clearly that their facilities are not up to par to join the top division, known as the Football Bowl Subdivision, or FBS.
“An essential element needed to attract the attention of an FBS conference is facilities, particularly those in the revenue-producing spectator sports,” the study explains. “Although the current Sacramento State football stadium is more than adequate for competition at the FCS level, it is below the standards that would be necessary in FBS football and the Mountain West Conference or Pac-12 Conference.”
The decision by the NCAA shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. Sac State has begun to break ground on a stadium, nor have a cost estimate of said stadium.
On X, Sac State President Luke Wood remained confident that the Hornets are FBS-ready.
“Sacramento State has met every meaningful benchmark for FBS membership and we believe our university, our students and the entire Sacramento region deserve major college football. We’re full steam ahead and we still plan to be playing FBS football in 2026.”
They also deserve some answers.
The Bee Editorial Board sent a request to the university, asking for any documents that pertain to a market study, stadium cost estimate, or floor plans of the proposed football stadium. This work by a consultant was announced by Wood back in September when he unveiled his stadium plan. On Monday, the university sent a response saying that it doesn’t have any such records, meaning none of the work has been completed.
How is the community to jump on this hype train if there’s nothing substantial for them to be excited about? What other response should the NCAA give a university with no cost estimate on a stadium that is the centerpiece of their whole bid to the higher division?
Sac State football needs to get the basics down before there should be any hype about reaching any higher than where Sac State is now, the second tier known as the Football Championship Subdivision.
And that should be enough for right now. The focus should be on the potential of a 2025 season that can show the world what Sac State football is worth and what in the world the Go-Go offense is.
Anything other than that is intangible and takes the excitement away from Sac State football.
