Great to hear that Kavir Bains got $200K of NIL as a grad transfer to Pitt. These power programs must be flush with cash!

Great conversation with Scott Marsh. I really enjoyed it especially the discussion about Pinnick and the tough schedule we have to start the season with a young QB. Also liked the discussion about all the noise Sac has created across the causeway and it was nice to hear a bit about the new Aggie recruits for men's basketball too and Scott saying that the Ags have "some marquee games" scheduled for this fall. Exciting times for Aggie sports!

Plot Twist for Sac State Football Independence + Updates On ASUN, WAC, Big Sky Movement

Well, this is another twist in the ever-evolving saga of Sacramento State. For those of you keeping score at home, the Hornets have gone from launching a $50 million Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) fund to scaling back academic programs, all in pursuit of the elusive dream of joining the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). A dream that, let’s face it, only a handful of programs actually turn a profit from competing at that level (or any level!). Oh, and don’t tell Ohio State, Alabama and Texas (among others!) that a FCS school has a bigger NIL budget than them.

Now here comes the latest chapter.

On Monday, the FBS Oversight Committee formally recommended that the Division I Council deny Sacramento State’s waiver request to move up to the FBS — the highest level of college football. That decision isn’t final yet, but you can feel the direction this is heading.

So, how did Sacramento State respond?

Yes, the Hornets plan to go independent in football, even as an FCS independent, if the FBS bid is officially denied. And don’t be surprised if legal action follows. A lawsuit wouldn’t be shocking, given how committed they seem to this path.

Monday: Denial recommendation.
Tuesday: Leak an announcement to become an independent.
Wednesday: Make the announcement official in a very extravagant way.
Thursday: Find a way to make “Go-Go” work more into their marketing scheme for becoming independent.

Life comes at you fast.

Whole article here: https://herosports.com/fcs-plot-twist-sac-state-football-independence-ksks/

Here is the original tweet that Woods made back on April 10 essentially saying that FCS football is "JV football" as far as Sac is concerned:

Is Woods sure that Sac will have a new stadium built to open in 2026 or is that just more hyperbole without any plans to definitively show that it is actually in the works? What is the "30,000 square foot football facility" that Woods also says that Sac "just opened?" I don't remember seeing anything like that but maybe I missed it.

Click on the tweet to see the whole post:

I've never seen anything publicly that the MWC had officially reached out to Sac.

This was posted on the Sac Football Forum:

If going to the MWC meant keeping football at FCS level, then we would be golden.

Already in a FBS conference, and the NCAA wouldn’t have had an issue. Just upgrading the program to fit the MWC peer schools.

But we shunned the MWC because Wood was to rabid on PacX. Meanwhile the PacX just laughed.

If the BW is so great, why did Davis move away from that direction? They played chess while Wood played chutes and ladders.

Now Sac is in football hell. We only got $100,000 from BSC, but at least they had a trophy/ring to play for. As an Indy, no postseason, no trophy and only being paid half to play away FBS games.

What about this magical ‘26 schedule Orr had put together? Any contracts signed with FBS teams? More money lost. NIL gone, players gone, coach gone, pride comes before a fall and Sac State fell to the literal bottom.

https://bigskyfans.com/threads/the-pac-mwc-dominoes-begin-to-fall.29863/page-44

Click on Show more to see the entire statement:

I've been a member of AST since the early days when it began. We are, for the most part by far, a very considerate and friendly Aggie fan forum and I hope it stays that way and grows in popularity and participation. I think it's good for the Aggie fan base to have a supportive fan forum where fans can discuss Aggie Athletics.

I read the Sac forum because I'm interested in what's happening with our long time rival but I would never join and post over there. Some of their members get nasty with each other regularly and call each other out. Our forum administrators would not allow that kind of stuff here and I'm 100% in support of that.

Scheduling to date:

11/04 Cal Maritime at 6 pm
11/14 Sacramento State
11/18 at Nevada, The Acrisure Series
12/4 at Hawaii (Big West Bold Week)
11/21 at Colorado, The Acrisure Series
11/24 Louisiana, The Acrisure Series
12/17 Seattle
12/21 at Idaho State

Does an FCS Program Have One of the Deepest Backfields in the Country?

With the help of the transfer portal, one FCS program has assembled one of the deepest backfields in the country

By Mark Pszonak

There are plenty of deep backfields across the country, especially at the elite P4 programs who have a conveyor belt of impressive talent. However, when it comes to a mixture of talent, experience and production, one of the deepest is in the FCS.

Sacramento State has been an FCS recruiting juggernaut since the program hired Brennan Marion as their head coach on December 21st. The former UNLV offensive coordinator made numerous important additions through the transfer portal, which included a complete overhaul of the backfield.

First, one important member of the 2024 backfield does return, Curron Borders. After redshirting in 2023, Borders played in all 12 games last season, totaling 361 yards and one touchdown on the ground, while averaging 5.6 yards per carry.

Borders will face stiff competition during this off-season to attempt to earn playing time in 2025. First, two FBS transfers will try to make an immediate impact. Savion Red (Nevada) began his collegiate career at Texas before transferring to Nevada prior to the 2024 season. With the Wolf Pack, he rushed for 687 yards and a team leading eight touchdowns. The other FBS addition is Rodney Hammond Jr. (Pittsburgh), who in four seasons with the Panthers rushed for 1,546 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The most intriguing transfer addition by the Hornets may turn out to be Jamar Curtis (Lafayette). A two-time Walter Payton Award finalist, which is the FCS Heisman Trophy, Curtis rushed for 2,598 yards and 31 touchdowns over the last two seasons. On top of that he has added 49 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns.

How the Hornets will split the carries amongst Curtis, Hammond, Red and Borders is unclear at this point and likely will be a work in progress throughout summer camp and into the season. But this is a problem that many programs across the country would love to have. Splitting carries will keep the backfield fresh throughout the season, which should help make the Hornets a viable threat in the Big Sky Conference in 2025.

Since Coach Marion's hiring, Sacramento State has become one of the more polarizing programs in the country.

https://mikefarrellsports.com/college/does-an-fcs-program-sacramento-state-have-one-of-the-deepest-backfields-in-the-country

I think Roberson is probably done. He wasn't a great player at Cal, and now he has two years of rust on top of not-so-great. — yolohw

Les is well known for bringing in players that he feels are diamonds-in-the-rough and developing them. Quite a few of them became outstanding players under his coaching. I don't know if Roberson will be back or not but I do know that Les was high on his potential to be a solid contributor prior to tearing his ACL in a pick up game 2 years ago. I trust Les' eye for talent so I hope Roberson is able to return this year and that we get to finally see him in action.

The folks over on t he Big West Boards are saying that teams are signing 15 players this year to their rosters.