Fast, Violent, Physical: Sacramento State begins fall camp ahead of inaugural FBS season

Under a scorching Sacramento sun, the Hornets kicked off their inaugural season as an FBS program with their fall camp, which will extend until their first game in late August.

In spite of the nearly triple-digit heat, new head coach Alonzo Carter roamed the field, keeping the energy high.

Carter’s not new to the FBS spotlight, having spent the last nine years as a part of the coaching staff at both Arizona and San Jose State, but this will be his first season as a Division I head coach.

Sac State’s inaugural FBS season started today at fall camp under a scorching Sacramento sun: pic.twitter.com/XFVoj6xjIX

— Jack Dann (@JackBDann) July 30, 2026

“This is exciting,” Carter said. “I didn’t get any sleep last night. I couldn’t wait to get out here, fresh off of media day. In Detroit, people wanted to see what we’re about, so it was good to bring that message back to our team.”

Carter’s staff brought a unique approach to the first two days of fall camp this year, splitting newcomers to the program and college football off from the veterans.

“It’s kind of like an NFL old school training camp mentality,” Carter explained. “I did an internship with the [San Francisco] 49ers, so I kind of tried to model some of that, and it went really well. We’ve got over 115 guys, so I figured we had enough to split the team today and tomorrow, and on Friday we’ll bring them all together.”

While this was the first official day of fall camp, the process of developing the teams’ identity began during the spring. That identity, highlighted by a mantra of “fast, violent, physical,” has become the foundation that Carter hopes will carry Sac State through the challenges of its first FBS season.

The team was given some external motivation after the MAC Media Day in Detroit, when the preseason coaches poll placed them second-to-last, ahead of just UMass, who finished 0-12 the prior season.

Conklin, who returned to Sac State this offseason after a year at Fresno State, is the presumptive starting quarterback and one of this team’s veteran leaders.

“I love it,” Conklin said. “I love the fact that we’re ranked second to last in the MAC. My whole life I’ve been an underdog, and that’s just where I stay. That’s where I feel comfortable. It’s not so much proving everyone else wrong; it’s proving us right.”

On the defensive end of the field, senior defensive lineman Xavier Williams is embracing leadership in his sixth season.

“Being a seventh-year guy, people kind of just always call me ‘unc’ or the old head,” Williams joked. “But I’ve taken that as a positive now. People make jokes about it, but I know I have a lot of experience that I could share with the young guys. I’m taking that leadership role, it’s something that I do, it’s just natural now.”

For the Hornets and Carter, a ‘prove-it’ season is the aim.

“I believe in everything about Sacramento State,” Carter said. “So it’s about us being able to prove it. I am from Oakland, California. My whole life, I have been doubted and told what I can’t be and what I wouldn’t be, and you’re a reflection of your head coach."

"So, like I said in my initial press conference, I’m dreaming with my eyes wide open, and I’m gonna take these guys with me," Carter continued. "We’re dreaming about winning the MAC championship, and we’re gonna dream with our eyes wide open.”

The team kicks off their inaugural FBS season in Week 0 on the road against Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Aug. 29.