In their first season in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), the Sacramento State Hornets will be joining the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a football-only member, the league announced. This is another example of the ongoing realignment of college athletics.
This allows the Hornets, previously a member of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), to secure a long-term conference home for football. For the rest of the MAC, the addition provides stability when other conferences are dealing with membership changes, scheduling difficulties and the process of securing TV deals. While geographically unconventional, the move reflects a trend of conferences prioritizing football sustainability over regional alignment.
For the Bulls, this addition carries several implications. Most immediately, it introduces longer travel distances for at least one road game when the two teams are scheduled to meet. These trips are not new in the college football landscape, but they represent an added logistical consideration for the players, coaches and staff.
From a competitive standpoint, the move adds another developing program to a conference already known for parity. UB will eventually face a Sacramento State team still adjusting to FBS play, creating a unique matchup that blends uncertainty with opportunity. The Hornets have emerged as one of the stronger programs at the FCS level in recent years, making this transition appealing for both sides.
As UB continues to establish itself within the MAC, changes like this highlight how conference decisions made beyond Western New York can still shape the program’s competitive edge, a reality that will continue to influence the Bulls’ path forward.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of Sevda Abdavinejad
