‘Go-Go’ gone? Brennan Marion reportedly leaving Sac State football for Colorado
After one season putting his “Go-Go” offense on the field at Sacramento State, coach Brennan Marion is reportedly going back to the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.
Marion plans to depart his role helming the Hornets to become offensive coordinator at Colorado under head coach Deion Sanders, multiple news outlets including CBS Sports and ESPN reported Thursday afternoon.
Marion, 38, came to Sac State by way of UNLV, where he served as offensive coordinator. His hiring was announced last December, days after inaccurate reports that Mike Vick was set to become Sac State’s new football coach.
He was lauded for his “Go-Go” offense, a high-tempo, run-first system designed to create confusion and mismatches with multiple running backs, pre-snap motion, and creative formations.
Marion’s offense gained national attention for its ability to generate explosive plays on the ground while maintaining flexibility in the passing game, making it difficult for defenses to predict and adjust. At Sacramento State, the Go-Go produced one of the top rushing attacks in the FCS, showcasing its adaptability and impact.
Nonetheless, the Hornets finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in the Big Sky Conference this season after their loss to UC Davis in the Causeway Classic last month, their last year playing in that conference.
Neither Colorado nor Sacramento State had confirmed the news as of Thursday afternoon. Marion on Thursday evening confirmed his departure on social media, reposting a news story about his departure via Instagram Stories. He followed that with reposts of several Sac State players and assistant coaches who congratulated Marion and wished him well with Colorado.
Marion and Sacramento State President Luke Wood did not immediately respond to phone calls seeking comment.
Wood has lobbied for Sac State’s football program to be promoted from the FCS subdivision of Division I to the higher, Bowl Game-eligible FBS level. The NCAA in June denied Sac State’s request for a waiver to move up to the FBS as an independent university without an affiliated conference.
His abrupt departure marks the latest in a season of upheaval for Sacramento State athletics. In the past year, the university scrapped plans to renovate Hornet Stadium, announced a future exit from the Big Sky Conference, and dealt with off-field controversies including a fine levied against Marion for criticizing officiating and the cancellation of a postgame concert due to safety issues.
Colorado, which finished 3-9 in 2025 under head coach Deion Sanders, is banking on Marion to jumpstart an offense that averaged under 21 points per game last season.
Sac State athletic director Mark Orr and Wood have not yet publicly commented on Marion’s exit, which came one day after National Signing Day, when high school players across the country signed letters of intent for full athletic scholarships to Division I universities. Sac State signed at least 11 players, including local products in Roger Vanderhoef of Grant Union High School and Isaiah Ene of Granite Bay.
This story was originally published December 4, 2025 at 2:17 PM.