The Sacramento State Hornets football program, based in Sacramento, California, is set to transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) as a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) beginning July 1, 2026. The team, which first took the field in 1954 and plays at Hornet Stadium, has a history of stunning upsets, including a 2011 overtime win over Oregon State and a 2012 victory over Colorado, both as heavy underdogs. The 2019 season marked a major milestone, as the Hornets won their first-ever Big Sky Conference title, made their first FCS playoff appearance, and finished ranked No. 3 nationally. While they lost their only two bowl games (the 1964 Camellia Bowl and 1968 Pasadena Bowl), the program's recent success has propelled them toward the highest level of college football. Alongside the MAC move, the university will also join the Big West Conference for other sports in the 2026-27 school year, as that conference does not sponsor football.