The 2023 Sacramento State Hornets football team represented California State University, Sacramento as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Andy Thompson, the Hornets played home games at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California.
Previously the Hornets' defensive coordinator for four seasons under Troy Taylor, Thompson was promoted in December 2022 after Taylor left for Stanford University.
Preseason Polls On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Hornets were predicted to finish third in the Big Sky by the coaches and fourth by the media.
Schedule
Game summaries at Nicholls
Statistics SACNICH First downs 22 18 Total yards 441 293 Rushing yards 185 97 Passing yards 256 196 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 16–27–1 15–29–1 Time of possession 33:11 26:49 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 11/16, 221 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Fulcher 19 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devin Gandy 3 receptions, 82 yardsNicholls Passing Pat McQuaide 15/29, 196 yards, TD, INT Rushing Collin Guggenheim 16 carries, 74 yards Receiving Terry Matthews 1 reception, 84 yards
Texas A&M–Commerce
Statistics TAMCSAC First downs 13 28 Total yards 216 503 Rushing yards 144 311 Passing yards 72 192 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 13–27–1 17–26–1 Time of possession 29:08 30:52 Team Category Player StatisticsTexas A&M–Commerce Passing Peter Parrish 12/25, 63 yards, INT Rushing Reggie Branch 14 carries, 65 yards Receiving Micaelous Elder 6 receptions, 33 yardsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 14/22, 176 yards, TD, INT Rushing 10 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD Receiving Coleman Kuntz 4 receptions, 68 yards
at Stanford
Statistics SACSTAN First downs 23 18 Total yards 448 387 Rushing yards 169 180 Passing yards 279 207 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 21–33–2 11–24–2 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 21/33, 279 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing 13 carries, 100 yards, TD Receiving Devin Gandy 5 receptions, 64 yardsStanford Passing Justin Lamson 7/17, 138 yards, INT Rushing E. J. Smith 9 carries, 71 yards Receiving Elic Ayomanor 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD
at No. 7 Idaho
Statistics SACIDHO First downs 18 21 Total yards 305 412 Rushing yards 69 178 Passing yards 236 234 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–29–0 15–21–0 Time of possession 21:21 38:39 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 15/29, 236 yards, 2 TD Rushing Marcus Fulcher 10 carries, 44 yards, TD Receiving Jared Gipson 3 receptions, 91 yardsIdaho Passing Gevani McCoy 15/21, 234 yards, 2 TD Rushing Anthony Woods 24 carries, 117 yards, TD Receiving Hayden Hatten 7 receptions, 72 yards
Northern Arizona
Statistics NAUSAC First downs 21 25 Total yards 450 418 Rushing yards 195 161 Passing yards 255 257 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 24–34–1 18–27–0 Time of possession 30:13 29:47 Team Category Player StatisticsNorthern Arizona Passing Adam Damante 23/33, 196 yards, TD, INT Rushing Devon Starling 21 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD Receiving Elijah Taylor 2 receptions, 73 yardsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 18/27, 257 yards, TD Rushing 22 carries, 76 yards Receiving Jared Gipson 5 receptions, 108 yards
at Northern Colorado
Statistics SACUNC First downs 23 17 Total yards 334 332 Rushing yards 151 75 Passing yards 183 257 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 25–31–0 20–39–0 Time of possession 30:57 29:03 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 25/31, 183 yards, 3 TD Rushing Ezra Moleni 16 carries, 93 yards Receiving Marshel Martin 7 receptions, 52 yardsNorthern Colorado Passing Jacob Sirmon 20/39, 257 yards, TD Rushing David Afari 10 carries, 36 yards Receiving Brayden Munroe 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD
No. 2 Montana State
Statistics MTSTSAC First downs 26 25 Total yards 448 434 Rushing yards 328 200 Passing yards 120 234 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 10–16–1 26–42–2 Time of possession 32:40 27:20 Team Category Player StatisticsMontana State Passing Tommy Mellott 9/14, 99 yards Rushing Julius Davis 12 carries, 110 yards, TD Receiving Ty McCullough 4 receptions, 53 yards, TDSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 26/42, 234 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Elijah Tau-Tolliver 8 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD Receiving Devin Gandy 5 receptions, 59 yards, TD
Idaho State
Statistics ISUSAC First downs 16 26 Total yards 334 587 Rushing yards 42 273 Passing yards 292 314 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 30–56–4 21–32–1 Time of possession 24:55 35:05 Team Category Player StatisticsIdaho State Passing Hunter Hays 17/31, 193 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing 7 carries, 22 yards Receiving Chedon James 10 receptions, 77 yards, TDSacramento State Passing Carson Conklin 14/21, 235 yards, 3 TD Rushing Zeke Burnett 9 carries, 143 yards Receiving Marshel Martin 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD
at No. 4 Montana
Statistics SACMONT First downs 17 21 Total yards 268 547 Rushing yards 149 305 Passing yards 119 242 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 15–39–0 12–22–1 Time of possession 24:19 35:41 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Carson Conklin 7/22, 67 yards Rushing Marcus Fulcher 11 carries, 87 yards, TD Receiving Carlos Hill 4 receptions, 53 yardsMontana Passing Clifton McDowell 11/21, 218 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Eli Gillman 16 carries, 113 yards, TD Receiving Keelan White 2 receptions, 103 yards, TD
Cal Poly
Statistics CPSAC First downs 24 23 Total yards 539 538 Rushing yards 45 225 Passing yards 494 313 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 38–59–2 17–26–1 Time of possession 29:37 30:23 Team Category Player StatisticsCal Poly Passing Sam Huard 37/58, 483 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Paul Holyfield Jr. 7 carries, 27 yards, TD Receiving Michael Briscoe 3 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TDSacramento State Passing Carson Conklin 17/26, 313 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Marcus Fulcher 20 carries, 121 yards Receiving Jared Gipson 5 receptions, 154 yards
at UC Davis
Statistics SACUCD First downs 22 17 Total yards 388 308 Rushing yards 27 133 Passing yards 361 175 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 32–53–2 16–23–0 Time of possession 28:07 31:53 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 19/28, 232 yards, 3 TD, INT Rushing Marcus Fulcher 10 carries, 23 yards Receiving Carlos Hill 10 receptions, 144 yards, TDUC Davis Passing Miles Hastings 16/23, 175 yards, TD Rushing Lan Larison 28 carries, 121 yards, 3 TD Receiving 3 receptions, 54 yards, TD
FCS Playoffs at No. 12 North Dakota – First Round
Statistics SACUND First downs 26 21 Total yards 458 358 Rushing yards 244 221 Passing yards 212 137 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 18–23–0 11–18–1 Time of possession 26:36 33:24 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Kaiden Bennett 17/22, 207 yards, TD Rushing 13 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anderson Grover 6 receptions, 96 yards, TDNorth Dakota Passing Tommy Schuster 11/17, 137 yards, TD, INT Rushing Gaven Ziebarth 18 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD Receiving Bo Belquist 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD
at No. 3 South Dakota – Second Round
Statistics SACUSD First downs 18 15 Total yards 350 368 Rushing yards 148 194 Passing yards 202 174 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–30–1 11–17–0 Time of possession 27:13 32:47 Team Category Player StatisticsSacramento State Passing Carson Camp 14/23, 168 yards, TD Rushing Marcus Fulcher 13 carries, 67 yards, 2 TD Receiving Anderson Grover 3 receptions, 79 yardsSouth Dakota Passing Aidan Bouman 11/16, 174 yards, 2 TD Rushing Charles Pierre Jr. 13 carries, 123 yards Receiving JJ Galbreath 1 reception, 75 yards, TD
Ranking movements
References