A BRIEF PREVIEW

• Coming off a dominant win at Eastern Washington last weekend, Sacramento State will return to the Pacific Northwest on Saturday, Nov. 8, to play at Portland State. The game will kickoff at 2 p.m. from Hillsboro Stadium.
• The Hornets were victorious for the fifth time in their last seven games with a 35-13 win at EWU. Sacramento State scored all five of its touchdowns on rushes and finished the game with 376 yards on the ground. The defense also boasted 11 TFLs to help keep the team's FCS playoff dreams alive.
• The win lifted the Hornets to 5-4 overall and 3-2 in Big Sky Conference games.  With three games remaining, the team currently owns the tie-breaker for fourth place in the league standings.
• This week's game will be streamed on ESPN+  with Matt Richert (play-by-play) and Scott Hermo (analyst).
• Hornet fans can tune in to ESPN 1320 AM to hear the radio call of Jason Ross (play-by-play), Steve McElroy (analyst) and Danny Sullivan (sideline). Live audio streaming is also available via www.hornetsports.com and the Audacy app.

OPPONENT PREVIEW: PORTLAND STATE

• Portland State picked up its first win of the season with a 40-35 road victory at Cal Poly on Saturday. Delon Thompson scored four touchdowns and rushed for 184 yards to lead the offense whole Carsten Mamaril had two interceptions and three pass breakups to earn National FCS Defensive Player of the Week.
• The Vikings (1-8 overall, 1-4 Big Sky) have played the most difficult FCS schedule in the country according to the Massey Ratings. PSU has faced Tarleton State, North Dakota and Northern Arizona which were all ranked in the FCS top 25 at the time as well as played at then No. 23 BYU and at Hawaii.
• Portland State used three different starting quarterbacks in the first three games of the season before settling on John-Keawe Sagapolutele. The transfer from Hawaii has thrown for 1,327 yards with four touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
• Isaiah Green is the team's leading tackler with 81 stops while Spencer Elliott has a team-high 4.5 sacks.
• The Vikings lead the all-time series, 24-13. Sacramento State has made up some ground of late, winning five of the last seven and eight of the last 11. 
• Bruce Barnum is in his 11th season as the PSU head coach and 16th with the program. He is 38-71 as a head coach and 2-3 against the Hornets.

AMONG THE GREATS

• Rodney Hammond, Jr., cemented his name with some of the best running backs in school history with his performance at Eastern Washington. Hammond ran for a career-high 208 yards and scored two touchdowns, becoming the 11th Hornet to run for at least 200 yards in a game in school history.
• Hammond became the first Hornet to rush for 200 yards since Cameron Skattebo had 201 also at Eastern Washington on Oct. 15, 2022.
• Charles Roberts remains the NCAA FCS all-time leader with 13 career 200-yard games. Next on the Sacramento State list is Rob Harrison, Bryan Hilliard and Ryan Mole who each did it twice. Elijah Dotson, John Farley, Tyrone  Gross, Troy Mills, Jordan Robinson and Skattebo each rushed for 200 yards once.
• Another big day from Hammond against Portland State could set feats which haven't been seen in nearly a decade. Jordan Robinson was the last Hornet to rush for over 150 yards in consecutive games as he had 262 against Portland State and 152 at UC Davis in 2016. Roberts is the only Sacramento State player to have consecutive 200-yard games as he had three such streaks, including four straight in 1998. Roberts last did it in 2000 with 219 against Saint Mary's and 240 vs. Cal Poly.
• Hammond enters this week's game with 762 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. If he is able to pick up 238 yards over the next three games, he would become the 16th 1,000-yard rusher in school single-season history and the first since Skattebo had 1,373 in 2022.
• The senior, who transferred from Pitt, already has 1,285 all-purpose yards and is averaging 142.8 all-purpose yards per game. Hammond's total is more than twice the amount of the next closest player on the team (Ernest Campbell, 604). He needs 340 yards to move into the school single-season top 10.  

ONE OR THE OTHER

• With wind blowing consistently at 25 mph and gusting upwards of 40 mph, it became a light passing day for Cardell Williams. The Hornet quarterback completed 3-of-6 pass attempts for just 15 yards — season lows in each category.
• The 15 total passing yards are the second fewest in a game in the school's Div. I era. The only lower total came at Northern Colorado in 2011 when Sacramento State did not attempt a pass.

Sacramento State Fewest Passing Yards (Div. I-era)
1. at Northern Colorado (10/8/11) 0
2. at Eastern Washington (11/1/25) 15
3. at New Mexico (9/22/07) 27
4. vs. Cal Poly (9/12/98) 28
5. at Boise State (8/31/06) 32

• The numbers were also in stark contrast to the week before where Williams set career highs against Montana. In that game, the junior completed 25-of-32 attempts for 332 yards. Williams became the 24th player in school history to throw for over 300 yards in a game.
• The Houston native rushed for a touchdown at EWU and has now found the end zone in six of the last seven games. His 10 rushing touchdowns this season tie him for 12th in school single-season history. That list includes three quarterbacks comprised of Asher O'Hara (19, 2022), Kevin Thomson (12, 2019) and Ricky Ray (10, 2000).

Single-Season Rushing TDs
T8. Kevin Thomson, 2019 (QB), 12
T8. Bryan Hilliard, 2010 12
T8. Bryan Hilliard, 2008, 12
11. Donald Hair, 1985, 11
T12. Cardell Williams, 2025, 10
T12. Ricky Ray, 2000 (QB), 10
T12. Troy Gassaway, 1994, 10
T12. Mark Schultz, 1984, 10
T12. John Farley, 1983, 10
T12. George Sula, 1974, 10
T12. John Scorza, 1967, 10

HE'S GOT COMPANY

• Hammond was not the only Hornet running back to have success at EWU. True freshman Jaquail Smith rushed for 117 yards and two touchdowns and the team finished the game with 56 carries for 376 yards and five TDs. The team has now had four players combine to rush for over 100 yards in a game nine times comprised of Hammond (4), Smith (3), Williams (1) and Damian Henderson II (1).
• The game marked the fourth time this season that Sacramento State has eclipsed 300 rushing yards and the third time the team has had multiple 100-yard rushers in the same game. Two of the top six team single-game rushing performances in school history have come in the last four games.

Sacramento State Rushing Yards (Div. I-era)
1. vs. Idaho State (11/6/99), 470
2. at Weber State (10/11/25), 397
3. vs. Cal Poly (9/9/00), 392
4. at Eastern Washington (10/15/22), 385
5. vs. Utah Tech (9/3/22), 378
6. at Eastern Washington (11/1/25), 376

• Sacramento State is currently leading the Big Sky and second in the FCS in rushing yards per game. The team's total of 2,248 rushing yards are the second most in the FCS and nearing cracking the top three in program history.

2025 FCS Rushing Offense Rush YPG

1. Delaware State 303.4
2. Jackson State 273.8
3. Sacramento State 249.8
4. North Dakota State 231.7
5. Alabama State 231.6
6. Montana State 228.7
7. Tennessee Tech 226.4
8. The Citadel 225.0
9. Lehigh 222.9
10. North Dakota 220.9

Sac State Single-Season Rushing Yards 
1. 2022 (13 games) 3,163
2. 1999 (11 games) 2,5846
3. 1995 (11 games) 2,564
-- 2025 (9 games) 2,248

Sac State Single-Season Rushing YPG Avg.
1. 2025 (9 games) 249.8
2. 2022 (13 games) 243.3
3. 1991 (10 games) 240.5
4. 1999 (11 games) 234.9

• Hammond jumped all the way from 40th to 23rd in the FCS with an average of 84.7 yards per game. Henderson is the only other player on the team to meet the NCAA minimums and is ranked 102nd at 52.4 ypg.
• In all 14 players have at least one carry this season and five have rushed for multiple touchdowns.

GETTING HIS TURN

• For the first time this season, safety Koa Akui claimed a share of the team lead in the tackles in a game. Akui, who has led the team total tackles nearly all season, posted eight tackles at Eastern Washington to tie for the team-best along with linebacker Oscar Moore. Along with the tackles, Akui also had 1.5 TFLs and a pair of pass breakups.
• Akui has been credited with 51 tackles in nine games and now has 2.5 TFLs. The junior also leads the team with four interceptions.
• Derek Houston paced the Hornets in the first two games with 14 stops at South Dakota State and nine at Nevada. Moore led the team with eight tackles against Mercyhurst and seven against Central Arkansas. 
• After defensive end Dylan Hampsten had a team-high seven tackles against Cal Poly, linebacker Alex Rocha stepped in for the injured Houston and had 12 tackles at Weber State and 11 against Northern Colorado.
• Rocha has taken advantage of the playing time with Houston out and is now tied for second on the team with 47 tackles. His average of 6.71 tackles per game is the best on the team. He also has 4.5 TFLs and a sack. Prior to this season. Rocha had recorded 14 total tackles in 12 games.
• Moore is tied with Rocha for second on the team with 47 total tackles.
• In all, 23 players have made at least 10 tackles in 2025.

BEHIND ENEMY LINES

• Sacramento State recorded five sacks at Eastern Washington and now has 31 total sacks on the season. The game was the third in which the Hornets had at least five sacks this season, following a season-opening seven at South Dakota State and eight against Mercyhurst.
• Sacramento State is now averaging 3.44 sacks per game which leads the Big Sky and ranks fifth in the FCS. The 31 total sacks ties the team for fifth place in school history and leaves this year's Hornet team just two shy of the top three.
• The eight sacks against UCA were the third-most by a Hornet team during the Div. I-era. The only games with more sacks by Sacramento State came against Idaho State (Nov. 12, 2011) and at Portland State (Sept. 15, 2007 where the team had 10.
• Against EWU, all five sacks were credited to five different players comprised of Deven Wright, Dylan Hampsten, Jayland McGlothen, Miles Bailey and Syncere Massey. 
• Fifteen players have recorded at least a share of a sack this season. The group is led by Jayland McGlothen who has tallied seven. Dylan Hampsten is second with 5.5, Xavier Williams has four, Deven Wright has 3.5 and DeSean Watts and Massy 1.5. Seven others have one sack and two share a sack. 
• McGlothen's mark is the most by a Hornet since Josiah Erickson had 10 in 2021. Twelve players have had at least 10 sacks in a season for Sacramento State, led by 14 from George Obinna in 2019.
• Sacramento State's school single-season sack record of 53 came during the 1986 season. The Div. I-era record of 44 came in 2019. 

Sacramento State Single-Season Sacks (FCS era)
Year Sacks - Individual Leader
1. 2019, 44 - George Obinna (14)
2. 2017, 43 -Sorensen/Obinna (10)
T3. 2012, 33 -Avery White (4.5)
T3. 2004, 33 - Jacob Houston (10)
T5. 2008, 31 - Mike Brannon (9)
T5. 2025, 31 - Jayland McGlothen (7)

• Sacramento State added 11 TFLs at EWU and now has 71 this season. The school single-season record for TFLs in a season in the Div. I-era is 110.0 in 2019. The next closest is 93 in 2017. 
• Sacramento State's current leaders in TFLs are Wright (10.0), Hampsten (9.5), McGlothen (8.5) and Williams (6.0). Despite the high team total, Wright is still five TFLs shy of moving into the school single-season top 10. Zack Nash currently owns 10th place on the list with 15.0 TFLs in 2011.

CAUTION: EXPLOSIVE

• Sacramento State added four more plays of at least 25 yards at Eastern Washington and now has 31 this year. The four plays all came on the ground with a pair from Rodney Hammond, Jr., and Jaquail Smith.
• Damian Henderson II owns the longest play of the season by a Hornet with his 85-yard touchdown run against Central Arkansas. 
• Overall, 12 players have plays of at least 25 yards for Sacramento State in 2025.

CHANGE IN PROTOCOL

• For the first time this season, Sacramento State had a change in its field goal procedure as Joseph Firebaugh took over at holder in place of Cal McGough. The change did not have an effect on the team as kicker Grant Meadors made all five of his PATs against Eastern Washington.
• McGough had served as holder for every Hornet game since the start of the 2024 season before not handling the duties on Saturday. He did, however, remain the team's punter and had an amazing day while kicking in tough conditions. 
• Twice during the game, EWU took a timeout to force McGough to punt into the wind. He responded with low line drives and averaged 34.5 yards per attempt. In comparison, the Eagles averaged 29.2 ypp when kicking into the wind.
• One on the two chances McGough had to kick with the wind at his back, he boomed punts of 56 and 59 yards.
• The Geelong, Australia native moved into fourth for career punt yards at Sacramento State in the game against Montana.

Career Punt Attempts Total Needs
4. Chris Pappas, 1975-77, 158
5. Augie Heath, 2009-11, 153
6. Cal McGough, 2022-25, 145

Career Punt Yards Total Needs
3. Mitch Lively, 2003-06, 8,370
4. Cal McGough, 2022-25, 6,096

Career Punt Average Avg.
1. Justin Weldon, 2012-13, 44.16
2. Doyle Brunson, 1968-69, 42.27
3. Cal McGough, 2022-25, 42.04

• The Hornet special teams have been stellar this season. Meadors leads the Big Sky and is 12th in the FCS with a .889 field goal percentage (8-9). He is also 39-of-49 on PATs and tied for 10th in school single-season history.

Single-Season PATs

T4. Zach Schreiner, 2023, 49
T4. Devon Medeiros, 2019, 49
T6. Scott Brown, 1999 42
T6. Jim Gill, 1988 42
T8. Zach Schreiner, 2024 40
T8. Chris Diniz, 2010 40
T10. Grant Meadors, 2025 39
T10. Kyle Sentkowski, 2021 39

• Hammond leads the Big Sky and is now fourth in the FCS with an average of 30.14 yards per kick return. The school season record of 28.54 yards per return is held by Brian Allred and has stood since 1991. The best average in Sacramento State Div. I-era belongs to Kris Daniels (27.53) in 2005.
• Hammond already has a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Weber State and had a second called back by a penalty against Montana. No player in school history has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns of at least 90 yards in their career. The closest has been Tyrone Taylor who had a 99 yard return at Idaho State and an 89 yarder at CSUN.

THE FLASH

Wide receiver Ernest Campbell showed that he's more than just the fastest man in college football with a career performance against Montana. Campbell started the evening with a 63-yard touchdown but finished the night with nine grabs for 206 yards. Campbell became just the fifth player in school history to have 200 receiving yards in a game and the first freshman to do so.

Sacramento State Single-Game Receiving Yards

1. DeAndre Carter vs. Southern Utah (2014) 273
2. Alex Estrada vs. Southern Utah (1995) 228
3. Ron Weaver at Santa Clara (1989) 220
4. Ernest Campbell vs. Montana (2025) 206
5. Tyrone Taylor vs. Weber State (1996) 201

• During the night, Campbell also set the school single-season record for most receptions of at least 50 yards. He now has touchdowns of 75, 62, 67, 50 and 63 yards during the season. The score against the Griz moved him past Andre Lindsey who had TDs of 69, 60, 56 and 53 yards in 2017. Lindsey, who was also a track and field standout like Campbell, holds the school career record with seven catches of 50 or more yards.
• Campbell leads the Hornets in every receiving category as he has 26 receptions for 580 yards and five receiving touchdowns. His average of 22.31 yards per reception leads the Big Sky places him fourth in the FCS. The FCS leader is UTRGV's Xayvion Noland at 28.04 ypr.
• Campbell came to the Hornets from Texas A&M where he redshirted in 2024 and did not appear in a game. He did, however, run track for the Aggies and earned honorable mention All-America honors after finishing 22nd at the NCAA Div. I Outdoor Championships in the 100-meter dash. Campbell reached the championships after setting a personal-best at the West Preliminary with a blistering time of 10.02 seconds.

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

• Sacramento State has played 22 true or redshirt freshmen during the year. This includes wide receivers Jordan Anderson and Ernest Campbell as well as running back Jaquail Smith. The three have combined for 1,314 all-purpose yards.
• Freshman have also accounted for 10 touchdowns with Campbell scoring five, Smith rushing for four and true freshman Bear Tenney with one.
• Defensively, Micah Mosley has the most tackles among the team's freshmen with six. Mosley has 1.5 TFLs and a sack in that total. Safety Lono Chouteau has an interception and Malachi Kindle has a half TFL. All three are true freshmen.

SERIES NOTES

• The teams first met in 1965 and again in 1967 and 1978. After a lengthy break, they played annually from 1983-2011 (with the exception of 1993).
• The Vikings dominated the early portion of the series but Sacramento State has won eight of the past 11.
• This week's game will be just the second trip to PSU for the Hornets since 2014.

CONNECTIONS

• Despite having players from 17 different states, the Hornets don't have anyone on their roster from Oregon.
• Co-Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs coach AC Patterson coached the Vikings from 2015-18 and then again from 2022-24.
• PSU has 32 players on its roster from California. Included in that group is safety Jerome Roberts who was a member of the Hornets last season.

SERIES LEADERS

Sacramento State
Rushing
262, Jordan Robinson (23 att., 4 TD), 2016
185, Charles Roberts (25 att., 3 TD), 1998
183, Charles Roberts (28 att., 0 TD), 1997
183, Elijah Dotson (19 att., TD), 2018

Passing
554, Garrett Safron (34-50, 1 INT, 4 TD), 2013*
367, Tony Trosin (31-48, 0 INT, 3 TD), 1988
332, Joe Garofalo (25-40, 3 INT, 3 TD), 1994 

Receiving
163, Zebede Brye (5 rec, 1 TD), 1989
158, Tony Washington (9 rec, 1 TD), 2008
146, Michael Parker (7 rec, TD), 1990

Tackles (1980-pres.)
17, Dexter Alcala (12-5, FF), 2013
16, Ryland Wickman (9-7, TFL), 1997
16, J.B. Cahoon (8-8), 1994

Portland State
Rushing (1980-pres.)
249, DJ Adams (26 att., 5 TD), 2013
247, Charles Dunn (31 att., 1 TD), 1998
243, Ryan Fuqua (33 att., 3 TD), 2001

Passing (1980-pres.)
464, Matt O'Connor (24-46, 2 INT, 5 TD), 1996
464, Terry Charles (29-45, 2 INT, 3 TD), 1992
394, Tygue Howland (27-53, 1 INT, 3 TD), 2008

Receiving (1980-pres.)
208, Art Williams (10 rec, 4 TD), 1998
188, Lavonte Kirkland (13 rec, 0 TD), 2009
168, Shackleford (7 rec, 1 TD), 1989

Tackles (190-pres.)
14, Tim Upshaw (5-9, PBU, Sack), 1989
13, Brett Rodarte (5-8, INT), 1986
13, Josh Ratliff (8-5, 4.5 TFL, Sack), 2003