SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The wait is over and the 2026 Sacramento State football schedule is finally here as the Mid-American Conference announced its slate of league games today.
 
The Hornets will begin its first FBS season in program history with a conference contest at Eastern Michigan on Aug. 29. The game against the Eagles will mark the first MAC opponent that Sacramento State has faced.
 
The Hornets will then return home to begin a stretch of three previously announced non-conference games starting with Mississippi Valley State on Sept. 5. Following a road game at Fresno State on Sept. 12, Sacramento State will welcome North Dakota State on Sept. 19. Like the Hornets, the Bison will also be making their debut in the FBS during the 2026 campaign.
 
The first MAC home game for the Hornets will come on Sept. 26 when UMass comes to Hornet Stadium. After the first of two byes during the year, Sacramento State will play at Bowling Green which is led by second-year head coach and former NFL all-pro running back Eddie George.
 
Ohio will visit the Capital City on Oct. 17 a week before the Hornets travel to Ball State on Sept. 24.
 
The first taste of MACtion will come on Friday, Oct. 30, when Sacramento State will host Kent State. That contest will be the start of three-straight midweek games which will also see Toledo come to town on Wednesday, Nov. 4, and the Hornets play at Central Michigan on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The latter contest will be the final of eight MAC games during the season.
 
The team's final bye week will be on Nov. 21 and Sacramento State will end the regular season at Hawaii on the Saturday following Thanksgiving (Nov. 28). The first and second place teams from the regular season will meet in the MAC Championship game on Dec. 5 at Ford Field in Detroit, Mich.
 
"It is a great honor to have the privilege to lead this team into this historic season," head coach Alonzo Carter said. "There is great football played in the MAC and we look forward to being able to be part of the conference."
 
In all, Sacramento State will face 10 of its 12 opponents during the 2026 season for the first time. The only teams the Hornets have previously faced are Fresno State (five times) and North Dakota State (once). Five of the 12 total opponents played in a bowl game following the 2025 season and NDSU reached the FCS playoffs. Sacramento State will face eight of the 12 other teams in the MAC during the year, missing defending conference champion Western Michigan, Miami (Ohio), Akron and Buffalo.
 
Game times and the selection of national television games will be announced at a later date.
 
Don't miss your chance to see all the action in the team's historic first FBS season. Deposits for season tickets are currently being accepted.

2026 Sacramento State Football Schedule
Aug. 29 - at Eastern Michigan*
Sept. 5 - MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE
Sept. 12 - at Fresno State
Sept. 19 - NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Sept. 26 - UMASS*
Oct. 10 - at Bowling Green*
Oct. 17 - OHIO*
Oct. 24 - at Ball State*
Oct. 30 - KENT STATE*
Nov. 4 - TOLEDO*
Nov. 11 - at Central Michigan*
Nov. 28 - at Hawaii*