Does Sacramento State have what it takes to earn a PAC-12 invitation?

Oct 2, 2024, 7:18 AM

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Lead Editor & Kings Beat Writer

Is Sacramento State in a good spot to receive an invitation from the PAC-12?

FCS analyst Sam Herder joined The Drive Guys this week to react to the news that Sacramento State will be building a new 25,000-seat stadium and has raised nearly $50 million in NIL funds. Is that enough to push Sac State into the FBS?

Be sure to check out the full interview with Sam Herder on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.

Listen to The Drive Guys from 2 – 6 p.m. PST, Monday through Friday, on Sactown Sports 1140.

Click here for full episodes of The Drive Guys.

Full Statement from the ‘Sac 12’ on raised NIL funds for Sacramento State

Following last Thursday’s announcement by Sacramento State University of a new Hornet football stadium, the SAC-12 Executive Committee has rallied the support of local business and community leaders and a local tribe to secure over $35M in NIL funds for Sacramento State Athletics in just the last 24 hours.

This huge fundraising effort comes on the heels of the continued momentum to elevate Sacramento State Athletics to the PAC-12 and the Hornet football program to the FBS. Today’s fundraising announcement is just the beginning of a continued community effort to secure Sac12’s $50M NIL goal.

“The $35 million we have secured over the last 24 hours demonstrates the civic and business commitment of all of those in the greater Sacramento region to this effort, an effort we know will pay great dividends to the university’s athletes and students, as well as Hornet fans and businesses across Sacramento,” said SAC-12 Co-Chair Josh Wood. “We are thrilled to announce this tremendous first step and will continue to work to reach our stated goal of $50 million.”

“When we began this committee, I had every confidence that local leaders would see how important this is for the community and the university, and join in our efforts,” said Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Properties. “The $35 million in secured NIL funding in just one day demonstrates not only how committed we are as local municipalities, but this committee’s ability to harness the power of local government to get this done.”

The newly formed SAC 12 is campaigning to empower and elevate the student athletes of Sacramento State by taking all sports at the university to an elite Division I conference, including taking the football program from the FCS to the FBS to play in the PAC-12. The Sacramento State Hornets, currently members of the Big Sky Conference, won seven conference championships in 2023, and with a student population of over 30,000, are the fourth largest university in the Cal State system.

Sacramento is the 20th largest media market in the country with a TV household population of over 1.5M viewers. If added to the PAC-12, Sacramento would make up the second largest media market in the PAC-12 conference. Additionally, a recently released study by the Greater Sacramento Economic Council has the Sacramento DMA (Designated Media Market) consisting of Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto, already the 20- largest in the nation, projected to move up to 19 by 2030, with the 11- highest growth rate (8.3%) this decade. It is the only top 25 DMA in the country to not have two or more professional sports organizations.

“Sacramento falls short because we don’t dream big enough,” said Barry Broome of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council. “Getting Sacramento State into the Pac12 is essential, it would change everything. It would significantly increase the economic impact on the region. It would change the reputation of the university, the city of Sacramento, and the greater Sacramento region.”

The SAC 12 Executive Committee is led by Co-Chairs Josh Wood and California State Senator Angelique Ashby. Committee members also include California State Senator Melissa Hurtado, California State

Assemblymember Stephanie Nguyen, California Assemblymember and Sac State alumni Joe Patterson, Sacramento City Councilmember and former Sacramento State Student Body President, Eric Guerra, Mark Friedman of Fulcrum Properties, Steve Patterson, President of Patterson Properties, Jesus Tarango, Chairman of Wilton Rancheria, Lance Hastings, Alumni Association Chair and CEO of California Manufacturers and Technology Association, Bob Ward, Business Manager IBEW Local 340, Brandy Johnson, Director of Public Employees IUOE Local 39, Mike Testa, President and CEO of Visit Sacramento, Otis Amey, Sacramento State alumni and former San Francisco 49er and three-time All American and Sacramento State Football Hall of Famer Cyrus Mulitalo.