Sacramento State gained a lot of attention this week when the school announced it was jumping up from the FCS to the FBS, and paying a lot of money to do so. The Hornets received an invite to play in the MAC as a football-only member beginning this year.
But because of the rapid nature of this move, the Hornets won’t be able to compete in the postseason for two years as things stand right now.
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Here’s why:
Why Can’t Sacramento State Play In The CFP Right Away?
Sac State can’t play in the College Football Playoff, the MAC Championship, or even bowl games even if the Hornets win enough games to do so because of NCAA rules.
The rules are put in place with the intent of forcing schools to be sure that moving up is right for them in the long-term. It’s also meant to give the programs an adjustment period for things like increased scholarship numbers.
How Long Is Sacramento State’s Postseason Ban?
The Hornets won’t be able to play in postseason games for two years. That means the soonest Sac State can compete in a postseason would be 2028.
Can Sac State Still Play In Bowl Games?
The Hornets can play in a bowl game if there aren’t enough bowl-eligible teams in the FBS. So they would have to win six games and hope enough teams also don’t meet that benchmark.
This has happened a few times for FCS teams moving up to the FBS. Missouri State and Delaware both played in bowl games in their first seasons in the FBS.
As was the case in 2025, there’s also the possibility of some teams dropping out of playing in their bowl games, which would open up opportunities for Sac State.
