It’s go time for Sac State’s ‘Go-Go’ offense, but who starts at quarterback?
Brennan Marion turned 38 years old this week, and the first-year football coach at Sacramento State who has spent a lifetime gearing up for this sort of season was presented with a birthday cake at practice with frosting, his name and candles.
He ate none of it. Imagine bringing a savory looking treat around an army of players always looking to chow down and expecting it to last more than 30 seconds.
“I got half a cookie,” Marion said with a laugh after Wednesday’s practice. “They ate all the cake, the cupcakes, all of it. Everything was gone. I got half a cookie.”
This wasn’t a complaining coach. This was a man who reminds that he got a lot more out of his birthday than a snack.
He has a season and a team to celebrate as a first-time head coach after coaching stops across the country. With his trademark cowboy hat in place, Marion will lead with all manner of enthusiasm his FCS No. 14-ranked Hornets into Saturday’s opener at No. 3 South Dakota State at Dykhouse Stadium in Brookings. He continues to stress his motto of “One great year can change your life.”
And this is no casual kickoff as Sacramento State does not resemble last season’s squad. This is a revamped team with 73 new players and a new coaching staff except for offensive line coach mainstay Kris Richardson. The school’s recruiting class was ranked the best in the FCS by multiple rankings services, and the overall haul includes 27 incoming freshmen, 10 junior college transfers and 37 four-year transfers via the transfer portal.
The host Jackrabbits have plenty to play for and prove, too, having won FCS national championships in 2022 and 2023. South Dakota State can relate to a new coaching staff and a roster full of new players. Jimmy Rogers after last season left to coach at Washington State, replaced by former Jackrabbits player Dan Jackson.
The entire coaching staff also headed to WSU, as did 16 South Dakota State players via transfer. Twenty-one players left the program overall, which happens when there is coaching turnover. So this sizes up to be something of the “Great Unknown Bowl,” pitting programs with new faces trying to get on the same page in a hurry.
Back to the birthday boy, who is tasked with making his “Go-Go” offense go, and to unleash a quick and athletic defense on a program that has been where the Hornets aspire to be — on top of the FCS championship heap. This is the final season in the Big Sky Conference for Sacramento State after 30 seasons, and the Hornets aim to go independent next fall, meaning no conference affiliation, in an effort to someday move up to the FBS level.
“The biggest birthday present for me every year is always the start of football season,” Marion said. “This has been a dream of mine since I was 5, 6 years old, when I was writing down every player that got drafted in the NFL and creating teams in my neighborhood to play pick-up games. I told the guys here that I don’t play any more, so this is your show, and all I can do is go up to the line for you and give you a great game plan and instruction and then be a cheerleader and support you. It’s their time, their opportunity, and I’m excited to watch our team.”
Who starts at QB?
Who will get the start at quarterback this week?
Marion hasn’t announced a starter yet, but he did say Wednesday that Jaden Rashada and Cardell Williams will play in the opener. Rashada out of Contra Costa County was a 4-star prep quarterback who started three games for Arizona State as a freshman in 2023 but did not play at Georgia after his transfer to that FBS powerhouse program last season.
Williams started four games at Tulsa, the alma mater of Marion, and he was the backup last season.
“Both guys have done a really good job in camp,” Marion said. “I’m confident with both guys and what they bring to the table, both being uniquely different, but they both bring something that gets the offense going.”
Marion stressed that as ambitious as the “Go-Go” offense aims to passing wise, the emphasis starts with a running game. The Hornets showcased a fleet of backs in camp and in two full-tackle scrimmages, including the speedy and elusive Jamar Curtis. He played three seasons at FCS-level Lafayette of Pennsylvania, rushing for 1,460 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2023 and going for 1,139 yards and 19 scores last season.
Unfinished business
The offensive line returns three players who had starts last season, including tackle Sawyer Hays of Christian Brothers High in Sacramento, left guard Kendell Riley of Rocklin, right guard Jose Soto and right tackle Aidan Meek. Meek is a third-year starter who did not allow a sack last season as the team allowed just 14 quarterback tackles in 12 games.
The starting center is Dean Abdullah of Antelope High School near Sacramento, who starred at junior college powerhouse American River College before starting for San Diego State in 2023.
Soto said the reason so many linemen returned this season was “out of loyalty to our position coach, Kris Richardson.”
He added, “Coach Rich has built a great foundation here, and we’re loyal to him. We’re ready.”
Soto competes like a man win unfinished business. He started the season opener last season before a broken foot ended his season. He was offered a track and field scholarship to Oklahoma out of Tulare Western High in California’s Central Valley but stuck with his true love of football.
Soto on his signing day with Sacramento State asked Hornets coaches if he could delay submitting his letter of intent paperwork for a couple of hours. Why? He wanted to help finish the early morning crops in the family farming fields. He was granted that request.
Sacramento State won Big Sky Conference crowns in 2019, 2021 and 2022 and reached the FCS playoffs in 2023 before injuries helped doom the 2024 season, resulting in three victories.
“It was painful to have to miss last season and to see my teammates go without me,” Soto said. “It’s great to be back.”
What about the D?
The thing about college football is teams will pile up yardage and reach the end zone — a lot.
Sac State’s defense was active and stole the show in the final scrimmage, and that theme will continue under defensive coordinator Marcus Patton, Marion said. The defense is led by returning linebacker Derek Houston, the pride of Rocklin High. He had 62 tackles last season and earned All-Big Sky Academic honors.
“Speed beats man,” the Hornets head coach said. “Anytime you talk about having a fast, violent, aggressive defense, you have to have fast, aggressive guys. That’s the character of our defense. I’m excited to see those guys get an opportunity to really put their imprint, to see them fly around and make a lot of plays.”
No. 14 Sac State (0-0) at No. 3 South Dakota State (0-0)
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
On air: ESPN 1320 AM Radio; ESPN+
Of note: South Dakota State is favored by 21 on at least one betting line, which seems a bit much considering that both teams have mostly new rosters. The Jackrabbits brought in 12 transfers from the FBS, including two receivers from Nebraska, a running back from Wisconsin and three players from Iowa.
South Dakota State returns its starting offensive tackles in the 6-6, 315-pound Sam Hagen and the 6-5, 300-pound Quinten Christensen; and the school added Stephen F. Austin transfer Nate Adams (6-7, 320), who started two seasons with the Texas program. Chase Mason will start at quarterback for South Dakota State, and he is a load at 6-4 and 240 pounds with breakaway speed, having scored six times on the ground in 2024.
This story was originally published August 27, 2025 at 2:08 PM.