Welcome Guest! Create an Account login email: password: remember me: BASKETBALL Latest News News Archive Schedule/Results Multi-Media Recruiting FOOTBALL Latest News News Archive Schedule/Results Multi-Media Recruiting MESSAGE BOARD Message Home - Ohio Basketball - Ohio Basketball Recruiting - The O Zone - Ohio Football - Ohio Football Recruiting - Ohio Volleyball - Ohio Baseball - Ohio Olympic Sports... - General OU Discussion... - Website Feedback... - Posting Policy Edit My Profile Private Messages Logout CHAT LINKS site searchcontact usabout usadvertise with ushelp Message Board BobcatAttack.com Message Board Ohio Football Topic:  Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school Topic:  Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school Author Message OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/15/2026 9:13:21 PM  Apparently this is official: https://tinyurl.com/mtavwfmm Say it ain't so, Jon Steinbrecher! Somebody please tell this is a parody site. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/16/2026 8:34:13 PM  Here's how it's being spun in Sacramento: https://tinyurl.com/5b7fm4sf Key Quotes: "As someone who had the privilege of playing in the NFL, I know firsthand what it takes to compete at the highest level of football and what that platform can mean for a young athlete's life. Moving Sacramento State to the FBS isn't just about football — it's about raising standards, creating opportunity, and giving our student-athletes national exposure right here at home. Sacramento has always had NFL-caliber talent, passion, and pride. This move signals that we're ready to step onto the biggest stage in college football and show the country what our university and our region are capable of." – Rick Jennings, Sacramento City Councilmember and former NFL player "If Sacramento State had been FBS when I was coming out of high school, I would have seriously considered staying home. This move keeps elite football in our region, and gives local student-athletes the chance to compete at the highest level in front of their families, friends and local community. Our Family is proud to support the next generation of athletes and football players at Sacramento State." – Arik Armstead, Jacksonville Jaguar & Sacramento area native "Sacramento State's transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision is an exciting development for our region. The move further strengthens Sacramento's sports landscape and reinforces the city's position as a leading sports market." – Matina Kolokotronis, Chief Operating Officer, Sacramento Kings The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top ExCat21 General User Member Since: 9/29/2014 Post Count: 1,241 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/16/2026 9:35:10 PM  I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/16/2026 9:52:59 PM  Well, we could always add WESTERN Kentucky! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/16/2026 10:13:53 PM  Then there's this tidbit: https://tinyurl.com/yed4p9nn He's got to be prevaricating. They can't be getting $18 million from football revenues. "Football paying for football" is total bull. Another article I saw referenced an NBA basketball player (Paul George?) who graduated from Sac State had been bankrolling their athletic department. That sounds more plausible, so maybe basketball is paying for football! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top GreenAndWhitePride General User Member Since: 9/12/2024 Post Count: 25 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 8:55:39 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Then there's this tidbit: https://tinyurl.com/yed4p9nn He's got to be prevaricating. They can't be getting $18 million from football revenues. "Football paying for football" is total bull. Another article I saw referenced an NBA basketball player (Paul George?) who graduated from Sac State had been bankrolling their athletic department. That sounds more plausible, so maybe basketball is paying for football! Paul George went to Fresno State and is from LA. Doubt it is him. Back to Top bobcatsquared General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 5,764 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 9:39:29 AM  Former NBA player Mike Bibby is the basketball coach and Shaquille O'Neal is the team's GM. Shaq's son is on the roster. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 9:46:40 AM  bobcatsquared wrote: Former NBA player Mike Bibby is the basketball coach and Shaquille O'Neal is the team's GM. Shaq's son is on the roster. Upon further review in the booth, it's Shaq that is being credited with writing the checks. Good catch! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top STVCastle General User Member Since: 5/22/2025 Post Count: 333 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 11:00:00 AM  ExCat21 wrote: I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. ^ This is one thought I've had. I'm taking a wait and see approach to this. If the MAC truly commits to expanding out west over time and helps Sac State out with travel (even just for football), then we'll look back at this and say the MAC had a plan in place. If 3-5 years go by and we don't go out west again to help Sac State, then this move was all about a cash grab, and the MAC doesn't have a plan. Back to Top OUs LONG Driver General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Copley, OH Post Count: 694 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 11:02:44 AM  STVCastle wrote: ExCat21 wrote: I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. ^ This is one thought I've had. I'm taking a wait and see approach to this. If the MAC truly commits to expanding out west over time and helps Sac State out with travel (even just for football), then we'll look back at this and say the MAC had a plan in place. If 3-5 years go by and we don't go out west again to help Sac State, then this move was all about a cash grab, and the MAC doesn't have a plan. I've not seen any report about an Exit fee. Isn't it customary that teams leaving a conference pay a fee to the other teams to do so? I'm just wondering if there's a chance the reported $18M ends up being more if there's an early exit. I 100% think this is a cash grab, and I honestly don't mind it. Back to Top STVCastle General User Member Since: 5/22/2025 Post Count: 333 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 11:07:34 AM  To be honest, cash grabs without long-term plans in place doesn't amount to much. Enjoy the $18 Million now, but plan on jumping to another conference that actually has a plan in place later. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 12:28:14 PM  Just read that Sac State signed a NIL contract with several local casinos for $15 million. I didn't think that universities were supposed to be directly involved in NIL payments. This is all so confusing. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top GoCats105 General User Member Since: 1/31/2006 Location: Seattle, WA Post Count: 7,740 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 12:50:08 PM  OhioCatFan wrote: Then there's this tidbit: https://tinyurl.com/yed4p9nn He's got to be prevaricating. They can't be getting $18 million from football revenues. "Football paying for football" is total bull. Another article I saw referenced an NBA basketball player (Paul George?) who graduated from Sac State had been bankrolling their athletic department. That sounds more plausible, so maybe basketball is paying for football! That $18M isn't going to be paid immediately and it's going to come from their big money games, from what I've read. So essentially anytime they go on the road and get their head kicked in by USC, Washington, or Arizona State, that check is going to the MAC. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 1:28:28 PM  GoCats105 wrote: OhioCatFan wrote: Then there's this tidbit: https://tinyurl.com/yed4p9nn He's got to be prevaricating. They can't be getting $18 million from football revenues. "Football paying for football" is total bull. Another article I saw referenced an NBA basketball player (Paul George?) who graduated from Sac State had been bankrolling their athletic department. That sounds more plausible, so maybe basketball is paying for football! That $18M isn't going to be paid immediately and it's going to come from their big money games, from what I've read. So essentially anytime they go on the road and get their head kicked in by USC, Washington, or Arizona State, that check is going to the MAC. But, $6 Million is being paid, up front, this year. Where is that money coming from? This is accounting sleight of hand. The private funding of the basketball program is apparently allowing them to use other athletic department funds for the $6 Million that they have promised to pay the MAC this year. And, I'm not sure when or how they pay the NCAA that cool $5 Million owed them. The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 1:33:51 PM  "Sacramento State is required to pay an upfront fee of $6 million as part of their agreement to join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a football-only member starting in 2026. This fee is part of a total expected cost of $23 million, which includes an $18 million entrance fee and a $5 million reclassification fee to the NCAA." -- According to the Sioux Falls Live The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Victory General User Member Since: 3/10/2012 Post Count: 2,491 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 3:32:01 PM  The Athletic Department just announced in a email: "Season ticket renewals will launch this week, the MAC will release our 2026 football schedule at the end of February/beginning of March, and before you know it, we’ll be back in Peden Stadium for Coach Hauser’s first season at the helm of our Bobcats." Needless to say, there probably isn't time to attempt to move a whole bunch of games. I except an undesirable solution with a lot of fan screaming about it. My personal expectation is deletion of using the bye the week prior to a team starting MACtion. I expect to see multiple teams playing a Sat/Thur/Tue or Wed sequence and several teams forced to play on Thur. Oct 29 to again play on Tues. Nov 3. I doubt ESPN will allow the MAC to not play on Nov 3rd or anything like that. Then there are BYE weeks for everyone throughout the conference season. Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 6:04:26 PM  Victory wrote: The Athletic Department just announced in a email: "Season ticket renewals will launch this week, the MAC will release our 2026 football schedule at the end of February/beginning of March, and before you know it, we’ll be back in Peden Stadium for Coach Hauser’s first season at the helm of our Bobcats." Needless to say, there probably isn't time to attempt to move a whole bunch of games. I except an undesirable solution with a lot of fan screaming about it. My personal expectation is deletion of using the bye the week prior to a team starting MACtion. I expect to see multiple teams playing a Sat/Thur/Tue or Wed sequence and several teams forced to play on Thur. Oct 29 to again play on Tues. Nov 3. I doubt ESPN will allow the MAC to not play on Nov 3rd or anything like that. Then there are BYE weeks for everyone throughout the conference season. I expect that the MAC won't meet that deadline for the schedule release. I also predict that we will see 3, or maybe even 4, MACtion games in November featuring Sac State with many of them in Sacramento. OHIO finishing the season at Sac State would be interesting! The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top Bobcat1996 General User Member Since: 1/2/2017 Post Count: 1,172 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 6:07:54 PM  I’m guessing Sacramento State is already better than UMass. They will not be a cupcake. Back to Top Victory General User Member Since: 3/10/2012 Post Count: 2,491 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/17/2026 8:16:46 PM  Bobcat1996 wrote: I’m guessing Sacramento State is already better than UMass. They will not be a cupcake. I think that if the NIL numbers some have thrown around are true that it won't take long to contend. Maybe this year. I know that they are not eligible for the MACGC but the MAC has also awarded a MAC regular season championship (or co-championship) since getting rid of divisions and I assume that they probably can win that if they are good enough this year. Back to Top Andrew Ruck General User Member Since: 12/22/2004 Location: Columbus, OH Post Count: 5,540 Status: Online     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 7:32:52 AM  ExCat21 wrote: I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. You're reading way too far into this. Sac St was desperate to establish themselves in FBS as quickly as possible. The MAC gave them an insane "this is what it will take offer" and they accepted it. It's only for 5 years and I'll be surprised it lasts any longer. And all that is a good thing. Why do you want to place our flag out west? Conferences are about a shared identity, history, and regional rivalries with neighbors. How is playing Eastern Washington every couple of years exciting to you? I can handle this for what it is, a 5 year cash grab, but it should not be any type of vision for the conference. Andrew Ruck B.B.A. 2003 Back to Top OhioCatFan General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Location: Athens, OH Post Count: 15,488 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 8:34:44 AM  Andrew Ruck wrote: . . . Conferences are about a shared identity, history, and regional rivalries with neighbors. . . . That's so last decade... The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA "It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right." Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org Back to Top STVCastle General User Member Since: 5/22/2025 Post Count: 333 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 9:00:22 AM  Andrew Ruck wrote: ExCat21 wrote: I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. You're reading way too far into this. Sac St was desperate to establish themselves in FBS as quickly as possible. The MAC gave them an insane "this is what it will take offer" and they accepted it. It's only for 5 years and I'll be surprised it lasts any longer. And all that is a good thing. Why do you want to place our flag out west? Conferences are about a shared identity, history, and regional rivalries with neighbors. How is playing Eastern Washington every couple of years exciting to you? I can handle this for what it is, a 5 year cash grab, but it should not be any type of vision for the conference. Why plant our flag out west? Because the MAC is long overdue to adapt and change with the times. I hope you've noticed that everyone else (especially in the G6) is changing with the times. Everyone else is changing the look of their respective conference. What are we doing? Just trying to get by. I'm taking a wait and see approach to this. By Year 3, 2028, if the MAC doesn't even try to go out west again for expansion, then this is confirmed to be a cash grab and a bust. Also, confirmation that the MAC has no real plan in place to develop as a conference. Back to Top M.D.W.S.T General User Member Since: 12/23/2021 Post Count: 3,533 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 9:42:04 AM  OhioCatFan wrote: Andrew Ruck wrote: . . . Conferences are about a shared identity, history, and regional rivalries with neighbors. . . . That's so last decade... Indeed. My only thoughts on this move... other than the initial eyeroll... is this was 110% driven by SAC. And the MAC accepted, because they got a lot of money out of it, they expand their footprint, while paying none of the associated costs of playing them. That's good biz. For SAC, it's purely a hopeful legitimization of the program and the university. They saw the MAC as a way to jump into FBS and all the excitement that brings to a university. They wont be very good, but strangely their style of play sort of fits with the MAC. They're a run first team with a mobile QB. I certainly don't think they'll be any worse than UMASS. Is what it is. We were never adding USC. None of these power conferences give a single crap about a shared identity, history or regional rivalries... why should we? Expand and adapt, or die. I'd turn around and take that $18M from SAC and see if we could sweeten a deal with WKU or Montana State, Montana (both?), or YSU. They got a gift from SAC, now use it to expand the conference. Back to Top SBH General User Member Since: 12/20/2004 Post Count: 4,594 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 10:14:49 AM  Maybe we lean into this situation and collect $18MM every year from FCS schools with delusions of grandeur. Back to Top GoCats105 General User Member Since: 1/31/2006 Location: Seattle, WA Post Count: 7,740 Status: Offline     RE: Sacramento State joins MAC as football-only school    Posted: 2/18/2026 10:53:31 AM  STVCastle wrote: Andrew Ruck wrote: ExCat21 wrote: I honestly love the move. MACtion plants a flag out west. This also leads to the discussion of creating a west coast pod and bringing in 2 more schools. I would love to hear everyone's thoughts on 2 schools we can add to the conference. Just off the top of my head and not doing research, the first two schools that jump out to me are Northern Arizona and Weber State. If schools like Eastern Washington or Northen Iowa are open I wouldn't mind those two as well. You're reading way too far into this. Sac St was desperate to establish themselves in FBS as quickly as possible. The MAC gave them an insane "this is what it will take offer" and they accepted it. It's only for 5 years and I'll be surprised it lasts any longer. And all that is a good thing. Why do you want to place our flag out west? Conferences are about a shared identity, history, and regional rivalries with neighbors. How is playing Eastern Washington every couple of years exciting to you? I can handle this for what it is, a 5 year cash grab, but it should not be any type of vision for the conference. Why plant our flag out west? Because the MAC is long overdue to adapt and change with the times. I hope you've noticed that everyone else (especially in the G6) is changing with the times. Everyone else is changing the look of their respective conference. What are we doing? Just trying to get by. I'm taking a wait and see approach to this. By Year 3, 2028, if the MAC doesn't even try to go out west again for expansion, then this is confirmed to be a cash grab and a bust. Also, confirmation that the MAC has no real plan in place to develop as a conference. If they really wanted to do this, they should have formed an alliance with the new world PAC. They were DESPERATE for scheduling flexibility, and for the most part both conferences shared the same philosophy on keeping regional ties and rivalries together. (Texas State not withstanding) It should also be noted that the Sac State deal is only for 5 years. Nothing has been mentioned beyond that. Last Edited: 2/18/2026 10:54:09 AM by GoCats105 Back to Top Showing Replies:   1 - 25  of 30 Posts Jump to Page:   1 | 2    Next > View Other 'Ohio Football' Topics                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               WHO'S ONLINE There are 215 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com 214 Guests 1 Registered User:   Andrew Ruck There are no other users looking at this page.

Copyright ©2026 BobcatAttack.com. All rights reserved.  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use
Partner of USA TODAY Sports Digital Properties