Gotta beat MVSU and UMASS. I think we will lose to NDSU, Fresno, Ohio, Toledo, and Hawaii.

2-6 feels like the baseline, with the other games being toss ups at home and perhaps slight dogs on the road.

4-8 first year of FBS would feel like a success. Anything less than that, slightly disappointing, anything better is a fantastic momentum booster into 2027.

2-6 feels like the baseline — Kadeezy

Lets be honest here. 2-10 is the baseline (not as sexy). I'm not seeing any toss-ups since IMO any momentum built by Marion was lost by transfers and a completely new coaching staff.

I'm super interested in how NDSU does.

My gut feeling is that NDSU will do just fine. They are just built differently.

NDSU could have moved to FBS years ago. Based on performance they could have been in the Big 12 or Big Ten....The Bison often beat teams in those conferences.

I think you are underestimating how crappy some of the teams in the MAC are... And, SAC retained plenty of talent, and acquired even more. Also, we'll have a QB (either Conklin or Malone) that can actually throw the ball, so that will help.

I'm not saying 2-10 isn't possible, hell, 1-11 is possible (or worse). Just saying if you look at the computer rankings over the years, the top half of the MAC is pretty comparable to the top half of the BSC.

I think NDSU wins the MWC, year one - eligible or not.

I think you are underestimating how crappy some of the teams in the MAC are — Kadeezy

1/2 of the MAC is dogshit. This is more about how ready Sac will be to win at the FBS level by August. I expect a weaker Sac performance on average than the Nevada game last season (UNR is Massey 111).

Massey FBS (Sac opponents in bold):

74 Toledo
86 Ohio
90 W Michigan
91 Miami OH
109 C Michigan
110 Bowling Green
120 Buffalo
123 Eastern Michigan
126 CS Sacramento
131 Ball St.
132 Akron
137 Kent St.
138 Umass (dead last)

Better beat Kent and UMass at home, with Ball St. being a long road trip . These are still really tough matchups for Sac in 2026 especially w/ a new coach. 2-10 or 3-9 looks pretty likely.

The AD got his man with no HC experience and bypassed a local proven coach.

‘ I think you are underestimating how crappy some of the teams in the MAC are...’

I think a future in MAC media relations might not be in cards!

:grimace:

That looks very FBS to me. Dr. Wood is a genius.

NY Times/The Athletic has a preseason rating for all 138 FBS teams. Sac at #137, fellow MAC team U Mass at 138. Nowhere to go but up.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7529675/2026/08/24/college-football-team-rankings-fbs-preseason-138/


USAToday has them at 133;
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/08/24/college-football-rankings-re-rank-preseason-all-fbs-teams-138/91273993007/

At least they are playing on campus. I think that is really important for their survival. IMO it becomes an out-of-sight, out-of-mind situation for them if they leave campus.

Looking at the list, makes me NOT want to make the jump up to FBS until we are really, really, really ready with respect to facilities, fan support, players, and money. Feels like we just got to the top level of FCS and I would like to enjoy it for a few years.

Sac State was somewhat correct when they stated "FBS or Bust." For them, my guess is that it will be FBS AND Bust."

I think often about the students too. At least if we joined the MW for football the teams are all in a footprint similar to the big sky (-niu lol) but for Sac its literally long cross country trips for EVERY GAME.