Hello, Sacramento State!

It was James Baldwin who once quipped "home is not a place, but an irrevocable condition."

Sacramento State, who as of today, have joined the Mid-American Conference as a football-only affiliate member, is not a conventional choice for a league which has traditionally been proud of its regional heritage. However, Sacramento State is no conventional school.

The leadership at Sac State has taken a bold, aggressive approach in getting the Hornets into the national spotlight, shocking the college athletics world with their intention to jump into the top level of college football despite their relatively quiet history as a program.

It's a move that is absolutely coated in risk; paying $18 million to join the MAC and an additional $5 million to make the transition from the FCS level with no guarantee of return is something which pummeled programs with a proud history of success despite less-strict promotion standards in the past. (Idaho and Florida A&M immediately spring to mind.)

There is also no guarantee the Hornets can get their facilities up to the FBS level in time for their contract renewal in five seasons.

But it is perhaps that pioneering spirit that the conference needs in a time of uncertainty across the landscape.

The loss of Northern Illinois to the Mountain West Conference is an undeniable one. Losing the Illinois market will absolutely impact the MAC, which has long been valued for its bus-league infrastructure. Adding two new schools in the last two offseasons and dropping a full member will change the culture of the conference no matter what, and shatter the illusion of steadiness the MAC had maintained for over a decade.

That said, Sacramento State has a scrappy, upstart attitude which has been missing from the conference for a long time. Even if the arrangement is temporary, it could be welcome.

The addition of Sacramento State not only opens up new possibilities, but is also proof the conference is willing to consider new angles. It's hard not to feel optimistic about the potential of the partnership– especially given how eager both the fanbase and the program have been in accepting the larger MAC landscape as it is.

"The goal [of the MAC] is building a resilient organization that can function effectively amid continuous change," MAC Commissioner Jon Steinbrecher said in a recent speech. "... Leadership matters most during uncertainty. In stable times, management is often sufficient. In uncertain times, leadership is indispensable. ... The future will belong not to those who resist change entirely, nor to those who chase every trend; it will belong to those who can adapt thoughtfully while remaining grounded in purpose."

July 1, 2026 is a momentous date not only for Sacramento State, which as of today achieves their dream of being an FBS member, but also for the league, which has finally picked a direction after years of swimming in the waters of realignment.

It took a gut punch for the realization to set in, but you find your friends in times of trouble, and Sacramento State has positioned itself as a potentially crucial piece of the league's future moving forward.

We, for one, cannot wait to introduce Hornet fans to the traditions associated with #MACtion. The league's storied history and culture of grit are something to be embraced; being a part of that fabric will leave an impact on a program like Sac State, which will have a lot of work to do to prove themselves against doubters at the national level.

We also can't wait to learn more about Sacramento State and their roots. The idea of a West Coast program in the MAC is silly on its surface, but at the end of the day, ball is ball, and if that means both sides can share mutual respect for their philosophies and learn from one another, the partnership will be worth it on that alone.

Stingers Up.

Fly the Flag.

It's going to be a very fun five years, neighbor.