The FCS is akin to the shadow realm of college football. It’s that hidden stepbrother to the FBS who’s resorted to living in the basement. Doesn’t quite get mainstream coverage or reverence. People frown upon it, some with prejudice and others owing to the quality of football or lack thereof. Now, the FCS isn’t all bad, and fans probably like the exclusivity at this time. It’s still shielded from a lot of the modernization that the FBS has been hit with. Keeping a more community feeling intact. However, it’s also shielded from the influx of financial opportunities that schools on the FBS level can enjoy as the sport expands its footprint. As a result, one school has opted to take the leap.
A move of this sort usually stems from 2 places. You’ve either been stagnant as a program with little to no success or think a change can spark some life. Or, you’ve reached the ceiling that an FCS program can with dynastic success and want to push the envelope. See how far you can take this success. Well, Sacramento State sits closer to the latter category. 3 conference titles in 4 years from 2019-23, with the only down year being the COVID-struck 2020 season, has the Hornets brass feeling we can take this to the next level. Sacramento State president Dr. J. Luke Wood is laying the foundations of an FBS move. These initial foundations, just to get a real conversation going, set the school back a cool $5 million. No wonder this ascension up a rung of the ladder isn’t very common!
Dr. Wood took to X over the weekend and said, “Had a wonderful meeting this morning with @NCAA president @CharlieBakerMA. Class act. More to come.” The exact details of what was discussed during this meeting are naturally confidential. However, one insider suggests he has an idea of what was talked about. Over “The Big Mountain Podcast”, host JY relayed all the information that surrounds this development. Alongside a rather fascinating take on how things will play out when this move eventually happens.
When Universities make the transition to FBS, they experience many benefits. One of those benefits is an increase in out-of-state applications, usually somewhere between a 20-30% increase. Out of state students pay a higher rate because their families have not paid into the…
— Dr. Luke Wood (@DrLukeWood) January 29, 2025
So far, the school has asked for a loan of $2.5 million. The program approached the “Sacramento State Associated Students’ Inc.” with this gaudy sum. Which JY explained is “the student body’s non-profit organization.” Not fishy at all. Alas, this money shall be used to pay 50% of the $5 million payment required to gain FBS status. Additionally, Dr. Woof and Sacramento State have already allocated a further $2.5 million towards building a new stadium. Their current one holds just shy of 22k. That $2.5 million is going to increase incrementally.
“Plans are for [the stadium] to be built in 3 phases, with the first phase actually beginning this year. The amount that they’re gonna be putting into that phase is two and a half million dollars. Didn’t see much more in terms of when the second and third phase would begin or be completed. I’m not sure they really have a finished date for that yet, but it is set to begin here this year,” said TY. Let’s keep the logistics and intricacies of this move aside. What does it mean football-wise? Not only did TY shed light on when the move will actually happen, but he also discerned which conferences Sacramento State could become members of when they earn FBS status.
Sacramento State staring down an unconventional path when it moves to the FBS
JY didn’t just relay public knowledge around this development. He leveraged some intel of his own. “This move would not be for 2025 Hornets fans. Just way too many logistics, way too many scheduling [issues]. Things are not happening for this next football season, but they are shooting for 2026,” he said. “Well, how could it happen in 2026 because isn’t there a two-year window to make this jump?” JY proceeded to ask rhetorically. “Dr. Wood met with Charlie Baker last week to talk about some things. He didn’t say what. I have a pretty good idea what they were talking about.”
According to JY, the meeting was to discuss the two-year “probation period,” for lack of a better term. He implied that Sacramento State wanted to cut the time. In fact, he even thinks Dr. Wood may have discussed a concession on the aforementioned $5 million fee to get into the FBS. JY then proceeded to discuss the conferences’ interest in Sacramento State, or lack thereof.
“I do not believe the Hornets have a landing spot in 2026 yet,” he said. “I don’t think the PAC-12 is interested right now. Maybe in the future, but not in 2026. Don’t think the Mountain West is interested. And I have been told Conference USA does not want to go that far west.” As per JY, this only leaves one tangible option. “I think they are gearing up to possibly go independent in FBS for the 2026 football season.” Notre Dame really has blazed the trail for what’s possible as an independent program, making the run they made last season. “Of course, if they get an invite, they’re going to be a member of a conference. I just don’t think they’re there yet, [and] they are moving full speed ahead,” he said in summation.
Dr. Wood has stated it’s “FBS or bust” for the program. By hook or by crook, Sacramento State is imminently going to be playing an FBS schedule and reaping FBS rewards soon.
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