The 2026 Sacramento State Hornets football team represents California State University, Sacramento during the 2026 NCAA Division I FBS football season as a member of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). They are led by Alonzo Carter in his first season as head coach and play their home games at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California. This is their first year in FBS after 33 years in the FCS between from 1993 to 2025.
A realignment to the FBS was announced in 2025, but the NCAA Football Oversight Committee denied a recommendation ahead of a Division I Council vote. The vote later officially denied the waiver. In February 2026, it was announced that the Hornets would join the Mid-American Conference (MAC) at the FBS level as a football-only member beginning with the 2026 season.
Offseason Transfers Outgoing Adam JohnstonLSArkansasGavin NelsonTECal PolyDontae RobinsonTECentral MichiganDamian Henderson IIRBColoradoJaquail SmithRBColoradoErnest CampbellWRColoradoJose SotoOLColoradoMicah MosleyOLBFresno StateDylan HampstenDLFresno StateCardell WilliamsQBMarylandRicky Lee IIICBMiddle TennesseeJaden RashadaQBMississippi StateJames GillespieDLNevadaBear TenneyTENew MexicoKoa AkuiSRiceJason OliverCBSan Diego StateJordan AndersonWRSan Jose StateJayland McGlothenDLSan Jose StateAnta'Veon McKenzieSUABDeSean WattsDTWashington
Incoming Nikko KlemmSArizona StateNoah KingCBColoradoNick DimitrisDLFlorida A&MCarson ConklinQBFresno StateIsiah Chala Jr.DEFresno StateTim ThomasLBFresno StateKyle KoontzTEHouston ChristianRaiden BrownWRIdaho StateJackson SharmanQBIdaho StateDonovan TurnerCBIllinoisDarson JeantyLBLafayetteAmari WallaceCBMiami (FL)Qualyn McQueenCBNebraska–KearneyJaylen PattersonQBNew Mexico StateIvan Moore Jr.DENorthern IllinoisElijah WashingtonWROregon StateDionte ThortonDBPortland StateMalikai NicholsCBSaint FrancisCincere RhaneyRBSan Diego StateMatthew ColemanWRSan Jose StateBoogsie SilveraSSouth FloridaJay BrockhausPSoutheasternCedric AntonTETiffinGarrison BlankOTUCLAWill WeberDLUTEPVae SoifuaOLWeber StateDavion GodleyRBWeber StateJamel Howard Jr.DLWisconsin
Coaching staff additions NameNew PositionPrevious TeamPrevious Position SourceAlonzo CarterHead coachArizonaAssistant head coach/Running backsEric KiesauOffensive coordinatorFloridaOffensive quality controlAdam ClarkDefensive coordinatorNorthern ArizonaDefensive coordinatorMilo AustinSpecial teams coordinatorElonSpecial teams coordinatorAngus McClureAssociate head coach/Offensive lineKansasOffensive analystKenwick ThompsonAssistant head coach/Co-defensive coordinator/LinebackersFlorida A&MDefensive coordinator/LinebackersNick AlaimaloRunning backs/Co-special teams coordinatorWashington StateAssistant wide receivers coachRobert ConleyTight endsWeber StateRun game coordinator/Tight endsDakari MonroeCornerbacksArizonaDefensive graduate assistantEric ScottCo-offensive coordinator/Wide receiversWest Los Angeles JCHead coachManako TuifuaDefensive lineNorthern ArizonaDefensive line
Schedule
Roster
Game summaries at Eastern Michigan
Statistics SACEMU First downs 13 21 Plays–yards 63–270 68–348 Rushes–yards 17–49 30–69 Passing yards 221 279 Passing: comp–att–int 25–46–1 27–38–0 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 27:32 32:28 Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Carson Conklin25/46, 221 yards, INT RushingIsaiah Ene3 carries, 47 yards, TD Receiving Onterrio Smith Jr. 9 receptions, 88 yards Eastern Michigan Passing Noah Kim27/38, 279 yards, 2 TDRushing Amareon Blue12 carries, 55 yardsReceivingBenson Prosper7 receptions, 81 yards
Mississippi Valley State (FCS)
Statistics MVSUSAC First downs 6 26 Plays–yards 53–147 70–453 Rushes–yards 34–104 41–203 Passing yards 43 250 Passing: comp–att–int 9–19–0 19–29–1 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 26:52 33:08 Team Category Player Statistics Mississippi Valley State Passing Jordon Davis 3/6, 24 yards Rushing Dezmond Ray 3 carries, 36 yards Receiving Jackson Hampton 1 reception, 18 yards Sacramento State Passing Jackson Sharman 18/28, 247 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Daniel Swinney 8 carries, 58 yards, TD Receiving Matt Coleman 6 receptions, 141 yards, 3 TD
at Fresno State
Statistics SACFRES First downs 16 26 Plays–yards 65–262 63–542 Rushes–yards 34–112 33–193 Passing yards 150 349 Passing: comp–att–int 15–31–1 26–30–0 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 28:47 31:13 Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Jackson Sharman 15/31, 150 yards, INT Rushing Jamar Curtis 9 carries, 48 yards Receiving Onterrio Smith Jr. 4 receptions, 66 yards Fresno State Passing Jayden Mandal 23/26, 316 yards, 2 TD Rushing Bryson Donelson 13 carries, 102 yards, 3 TD Receiving Ezekiel Avit 2 receptions, 103 yards, TD
North Dakota State
Statistics NDSUSAC First downs 17 20 Plays–yards 59–362 67–328 Rushes–yards 34–152 26–90 Passing yards 210 238 Passing: comp–att–int 14–25–0 25–41–2 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 30:30 29:30 Team Category Player Statistics North Dakota State Passing Nathan Hayes 14/24, 210 yards, TD Rushing DJ Scott 14 carries, 80 yards, TD Receiving Jackson Williams 7 receptions, 134 yards, TD Sacramento State Passing Jackson Sharman 25/41, 238 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Cincere Rhaney 9 carries, 38 yards Receiving Matthew Coleman 8 receptions, 95 yards
UMass
Statistics MASSSAC First downs 16 23 Plays–yards 53–333 77–323 Rushes–yards 37–232 34–102 Passing yards 101 221 Passing: comp–att–int 11–16–0 24–43–1 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 28:08 31:52 Team Category Player Statistics UMass Passing Pop Watson 11/16, 101 yards, TD Rushing 7 carries, 72 yards, 2 TD Receiving T. Y. Harding 3 receptions, 44 yards Sacramento State Passing Jackson Sharman 24/43, 221 yards, INT Rushing Daniel Swinney 9 carries, 35 yards Receiving Raiden Brown 6 receptions, 61 yards
at Bowling Green
Statistics SACBGSU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving Bowling Green Passing Rushing Receiving
Ohio
Statistics OHIOSAC First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Ohio Passing Rushing Receiving Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Ball State
Statistics SACBALL First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving Ball State Passing Rushing Receiving
Kent State
Statistics KENTSAC First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Kent State Passing Rushing Receiving Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving
Toledo
Statistics TOLSAC First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Toledo Passing Rushing Receiving Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving
at Central Michigan
Statistics SACCMU First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving Central Michigan Passing Rushing Receiving
at Hawaii
Statistics SACHAW First downs Plays–yards Rushes–yards Passing yards Passing: comp–att–int Turnovers Time of possession Team Category Player Statistics Sacramento State Passing Rushing Receiving Hawaii Passing Rushing Receiving
References