So we were told by the Wood brothers that it's FBS or bust. If the decision aligns with the recommendation when are they folding their football program?

I don't think the Wood brothers meant it that way. The statement was probably intended only to demonstrate their commitment to the plan. It will probably be business as usual until (and this may not happen) they just can't afford to keep the team going anymore. In the meantime they probably still work to improve the stadium so it can continue to at least hold track events.

As for the current roster of players I think the transfers realize they're running out of time to showcase their skills, and they will play out the 2025 season with Sac State. Some of the freshmen will sit out and be gone by the start of spring semester, having been given empty promises. They still have their whole nomadic college football lives ahead of them. Others will follow Marion to his next spot as he strives to be the Bartolo Colon of college football coaching.

When would we know definitively that they will not be FBS anytime soon?

I haven’t found much “real”coverage of this but based on what I’m reading from online taking heads- next week there will be meetings to establish a new governance model followed by D1 council meetings. They can choose to take or leave the advice of the football committee that just said no thanks. The outside hope on J St is that the committee didn’t want to make any commitments right before a big governance reboot and the council may still say yes, or that a new governance model will include some new flexibility that doesn’t exist this week. So an unqualified answer might be next week they could get a more definitive yes/no, unless a new framework for a “maybe” presents itself. I guess “soon” is relative. If they get a hard no this year do they push another attempt next year or in 5 years, idk.

Sac has 39 transfers on the roster, and they are a mixed bag. About 18 are seniors or redshirt seniors; those guys all knew they would be playing an FCS schedule, whether the school was transitioning or not. The decision doesn’t really affect them. Many of the transfers committed before Sac announced they intended to transition this year. Maybe some of the younger ones will bail.

Sac might have a great year, if so they may get a conference invite, in which case getting turned down in their attempt to go independent could be in their interest,

Division 1 could split, separating off the power 4 conferences, and leaving the lesser conferences as essentially in the same situation FCS faces, being perceived as minor league. Sac may be trying to crash a party that has moved on.

Click on Show more to see the entire statement:

How would you like to be the California state university chancellor now who is probably getting calls from every chancellor in the system as to why this Sac state guy is making all these grandiose plans to spend money he and none of the other chancellor’s actually have? How is he doing this and we can’t? Well, because he is making irresponsible statements and I do not condone them. Nice to know. All done while the students are gone and not watching where there hard earned tuition is going under this Woods guy. I really wonder if he has the ability to withstand this. If this FBS thing of his backfires, he is also going to have to deal with a ton of litigation from the players who were (allegedly) recruited under false pretenses. The NCAA has this figured out and will not be willing to take on that exposure IMHO.

From Sam herder on twitter: (this would be insane if sac actually tries this)

From Matt's other Twitter-like social media account:

"industry sources tell me Sacramento State is expected to announce tomorrow that they are withdrawing from the Big Sky and joining the Big West in everything but FB, effective July 1 2026. And if they can't join FBS, I'm told their short term plan is FCS Independent"

My own thoughts: I was curious if Sac State would pull this move next. I know them joining the Big West has been in the works for the Olympic sports. And Sac State could put together an independent football schedule in 2026 and beyond, even as an FCS member, with a combo of FCS opponents and FBS opponents. Departing the Big Sky after pretty much publicly saying "we'll be breaking up with you soon" probably makes some sense even if it's not the exact way Sac State intended with its FBS independent hopes hitting a roadblock by the FBS Oversight Committee. I also hear the school is very unlikely to get the waiver approved by the D1 Council next week

Lmao what a clown show

Yeah, and total silence from the Bee on these new developments.

I once saw a dumpster on fire next to Fluffy Donuts at the U-Mall. A police cruiser and fire truck casually watching it burn itself out from a distance, apparently deciding there was no benefit to intervention. So basically this.

I read somewhere that Luke Wood was homeless at times growing up and was raised by a foster family. You would think someone with such a modest background would have a healthy appreciation for financial restraint. It's other people's money though, so he wants to spend it on something stupid. Maybe he should run for office in CA.

They are joining the BW, good. But what a horrible move for football if they can't move up. They'll be playing home and homes with Utah Tech and Southern Utah.

I believe you are correct that the Wood brothers grew up in the foster system. Credit where it is due, most people do not become a university president by age 40 regardless of background. So he must be smart, which is perhaps why the obsession with this fools errand is so curious.