Moving Day 2025

[laker]

Why did Sacramento State have such a hard time getting an invite to a FBS conference?

Also, I read on social media that the "Ball - Sac" game should be a good one.

The school president painted himself into a corner- loudly proclaiming that the FCS was "the JV" and other insulting statements. I can see why the MWC turned them down and took NDSU instead. Also, UC-Davis has been accepted for all sports except football by the MWC. Evidently the Pac-12 decided that they weren't worth the hassle. Why CUSA didn't take the money, I don't know. Now we have Northern Illinois in the MWC and Sac State in the MAC. Make it make sense!

Ball-Sac would make a great rivalry trophy- they just couldn't show it on TV.

[TheBigCat2192]

The school president painted himself into a corner- loudly proclaiming that the FCS was "the JV" and other insulting statements. I can see why the MWC turned them down and took NDSU instead. Also, UC-Davis has been accepted for all sports except football by the MWC. Evidently the Pac-12 decided that they weren't worth the hassle. Why CUSA didn't take the money, I don't know. Now we have Northern Illinois in the MWC and Sac State in the MAC. Make it make sense!

Ball-Sac would make a great rivalry trophy- they just couldn't show it on TV.

To be fair, Northern Illinois was in the Big West for a few years in the 90s. This isn’t entirely new for them.

[laker]

Someone asked why the MWC is taking Cal-Davis instead of Sac St in all sports except football (I can see them taking them in FB in a few years).

The answer: Enrollment, Academic prestige, Endowment, Sustained athletic success in all sports, Disciplined, not desperate leadership

[ctrabs74]

Not official official, but close.
Pete Thamel
@PeteThamel
Sources: The MAC has voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026. The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days.

The MAC must be desperate for money if they're going to take $18 million from a school whose president is, to be charitable, borderline delusional. If you've seen some of Sad Sac State's athletic facilities, plus their latest scheme to build a new stadium at the site of the Cal Expo fairgrounds - which is nowhere near campus - and some of their other desperate decisions (such as hiring Mike Bibby as head men's basketball coach and hiring Shaq as some figurehead GM), you'd be laughing for months on end.

[laker]

The MAC must be desperate for money if they're going to take $18 million from a school whose president is, to be charitable, borderline delusional. If you've seen some of Sad Sac State's athletic facilities, plus their latest scheme to build a new stadium at the site of the Cal Expo fairgrounds - which is nowhere near campus - and some of their other desperate decisions (such as hiring Mike Bibby as head men's basketball coach and hiring Shaq as some figurehead GM), you'd be laughing for months on end.

I was reading on X where the question was- why did the MWC pick Cal Davis in all sports except football (and I think they will include that in a few years) instead of Sac State.
Answer- Enrollment, Academic prestige, Endowment, Sustained athletic success in all sports, Disciplined, not desperate leadership.

Seems like a good answer. Would Sac State ever consider changing their name to Cal State since they are California State University, Sacramento??? I think it helped Minnesota State Mankato.

[Finchwidget]

Would Sac State ever consider changing their name to Cal State since they are California State University, Sacramento??? I think it helped Minnesota State Mankato.

I imagine San Diego State, Fresno State, and San Jose State might have some qualms about that

[ctrabs74]

I was reading on X where the question was- why did the MWC pick Cal Davis in all sports except football (and I think they will include that in a few years) instead of Sac State.
Answer- Enrollment, Academic prestige, Endowment, Sustained athletic success in all sports, Disciplined, not desperate leadership.

Seems like a good answer. Would Sac State ever consider changing their name to Cal State since they are California State University, Sacramento??? I think it helped Minnesota State Mankato.

I doubt it. Most of the Cal State schools are legally known as California State University (comma) [Campus Name] but refer to themselves as [Campus Name] State instead of Cal State [Campus Name]. San Diego State, San Jose State, San Francisco State and Sonoma State are the exceptions to this rule, while other Cal State campuses use the legal CSU (comma) [Campus] but are more recognized by their secondary names (Fresno State, Long Beach State, etc.).

[4nick8]

I found this interesting. It is a rather large document but gives insight into D2 athletics. Sonoma State had a consulting firm do a study on bringing back athletics.

Mammoth sports consulting – intercollegiate task force report and recommendations

I didn’t read the entire document but understand the D2 “insight”. Note that it was “prepared” by former GVSU AD Tim Selgo.

[Bballfan]

The MAC must be desperate for money.

A number of MAC schools are in bad shape with athletics. By all accounts they would be better off dropping to FCS in football, but of course there is that "prestige factor". I mean they are basically a feeder system now to bigger schools. Some of the non-revenue sports have been cut in the past, and I would expect more cuts in the future. Without the pyramid scheme of paying MAC schools to play Big Ten and SEC schools in the fall, the MAC couldn't survive. So they can't afford to drop to FCS.

[crixus]

Someone asked why the MWC is taking Cal-Davis instead of Sac St in all sports except football (I can see them taking them in FB in a few years).

The answer: Enrollment, Academic prestige, Endowment, Sustained athletic success in all sports, Disciplined, not desperate leadership

They are taking UC Davis in football once their stadium renovation is complete which will probably take two more years. Their AD hinted to it without "officially" saying it on the Big Mountain podcast last fall.

[crixus]

I like watching MACtion because it's mid-week college football, but from what I read attendance has taken a hit at most of their schools. TV money keeps it going barely. You can't help but notice that there's plenty of empty seats at a lot of those cold mid-week Midwest night games. I live in SoCal, so I don't know what a cold weather game is like in person. I doubt I'd last one season living in MACtionland. LOL

[Bballfan]

I mean....

Empty seats, rising costs: Why MAC football’s attendance numbers raise a sustainability question - Yahoo Sports

And for example...

3News Investigates: Akron and Kent State struggle in college football's new era | wkyc.com

[laker]

I mean....

Empty seats, rising costs: Why MAC football’s attendance numbers raise a sustainability question - Yahoo Sports

And for example...

3News Investigates: Akron and Kent State struggle in college football's new era | wkyc.com

Akron, Kent State and Eastern Michigan could join the FCS MVFC and be in the Horizon for the other sports. But I would hate to see the MAC go away, I wasn't happy with Northern Illinois leaving.

[SW_Mustang]

I live in SoCal, so I don't know what a cold weather game is like in person. I doubt I'd last one season living in MACtionland. LOL

I used to gut out those cold weather games - but now I set a limit of 30-ish degrees, maybe 20 depending on how important the game is. Had a couple of close calls over the years frostbite wise and decided I hit my limit lol.

[laker]

5 year plan for Sac St.