SAC12 is led by a prestigious group of business, labor, and civic leaders, as well as notable alumni from Sacramento State University. The organization is dedicated to taking Sacramento State Athletics to the next level by joining the PAC-12 Athletic Conference as a FBS school. 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 in the 20th largest media market in the country with a TV household population of 1,379,770. If added to the PAC-12, Sacramento would make up the largest media market in the PAC-12 conference.
SAC12
Taking Sacramento State Athletics to the next level by joining the PAC-12 Athletic Conference as a FBS school.
Who is the SAC12 Committee?
The Pathway to the PAC 12
- Secure $50M in NIL commitments for the cover the first 10 years in the PAC 12.
- Secure funding and approvals to build a Football Stadium that seats at least 25K attendees.
- Secure funding and approvals to build a basketball arena that can seat at least 6K attendees.
- Turn out at least 15K attendees per home football game for the remainder of the season.
- Secure $5.25M in Conference Fees for NCAA re-alignment into the PAC 12.
Executive Committee Members
- Angelique Ashby – California State Senator
- Melissa Hurtado – California State Senator
- Stephanie Nguyen – California State Assemblymember
- Joe Patterson – California State Assemblymember
- Eric Guerra – Sacramento City Councilmember / Student Body President
- Mark Friedman – Fulcrum Properties
- Steve Patterson – Patterson Properties
- Jesus Tarango – Chairman of Wilton Rancheria
- Lance Hastings – California Manufacturing & Technology Association / Alumni Chair
- Bob Ward – Business Manager IBEW Local 340
- Brandy Johnson – Director of Public Employees IUOE Local 39
- Otis Amey – Former San Francisco 49er
- Cyrus Mulitalo – 3-time Sacramento State All-American (Football)
- Mike Testa – Sacramento Sports Commission
Committee Members
- Mike Kozlowksi – Mayor of Folsom
Co Chairs
- Angelique Ashby – California State Senator
- Joshua Wood – CEO of KozPure & Former Student Body President
Stay informed
Media
ABC10
New PAC-12 term sheet reveals what Sacramento State is getting themselves into
Through a public records request, ABC10 has obtained a copy of the agreement letter for new members of the PAC-12 Conference. That includes San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State, Colorado State. It’s a glimpse of what the future could look like for Sacramento State if they get in. This is still the interim period… and there is room for schools negotiate on some options. Read More
The Sacramento Bee
A move to big-time college sports would mean Sacramento State has finally arrived
The institution recently announced its plans to build a new 25,000-seat football stadium, on top of a potential bid to move to the Football Bowl Subdivision, the highest level of college football. Currently, Sac State is in the Big Sky conference, which is in the Football Championship Subdivision. Read More
Sacramento Business Journal
Don’t count out Sac State’s Pac-12 prospects
The Sac12 Committee, a group of business and civic leaders dedicated to pushing California State University Sacramento to the Pac-12 Conference, has been aggressively making a case for consideration… the continuous, aggressive efforts by the organization tells us their candidacy is being considered. Read More
KCRA 3
Sac State could play at Golden 1 Center if college joins PAC-12
If Sacramento State is accepted into PAC-12, a collegiate athletic conference that includes the Football Bowl Subdivision, the team would be able to play at the Golden 1 Center, the city’s premiere arena. Read More
KCRA 3
Funding, traffic and infrastructure: Sac State athletics director on logistics of new stadium project
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the Sacramento State Hornets and the athletics program. KCRA 3’s Michelle Dapper sat down with Sacramento State Director of Athletics Mark Orr to chat about the stadium plan and a potential move to the Football Bowl Subdivision. Read More
Press Release
SAC12 Committee Announces Offer to Host Sac State Men’s and Women’s Basketball Conference Home Games at Golden 1 Center
Playing home games in one of the world’s best arenas is another critical piece in Sacramento State’s ascension to major college sports: Sacramento, CA – The SAC12 Committee announced today an offer to hold Sacramento State University men’s and women’s basketball conference home games at Golden 1 Center subject to availability, if the university is admitted to the Pac 12 or other FBS conference. Read More
CBS
Push for new Sacramento State sports stadiums picks up steam in pursuit to join Pac-12
SACRAMENTO – It’s crunch time for supporters of Sacramento State’s effort to build two new sports venues in their pursuit of joining the Pac-12 conference. Hornet Stadium is too small for the Pac-12 standards and so is the basketball arena. So now there’s a new push for new stadiums as they seek to score an entry into the Pac-12. Read More
Sac Town Sports
‘Sac 12’ raises $35 million in NIL funds for Sacramento State Athletics
On the heels of last week’s announcement that Sacramento State will be building a new 25,000-seat football stadium, a local group of leaders called ‘The SAC 12’ announced on Monday that the group has raised $35 million in NIL funds to further aid the school’s hopes of elevating itself into the FBS. Read More
On3
Sacramento State’s Pac-12 committee raises $35 million for NIL funds
Sacramento State is ramping up its quest to land an invite to the Pac-12 Conference. Five days ago, the school announced plans for a new multi-use football stadium. The Sac12 executive committee announced Monday afternoon it has sourced $35 million in NIL funds from local businesses, community leaders and a local tribe in the last 24 hours. Read More
24/7 Sports
Sacramento State’s Pac-12 committee raises $35 million for NIL funds
“Sacramento State is ramping up its quest to land an invite to the Pac-12 Conference. Five days ago, the school announced plans for a new multi-use football stadium. The Sac12 executive committee announced Monday afternoon it has sourced $35 million in NIL funds from local businesses, community leaders and a local tribe in the last 24 hours Read More
Super West Sports
Sacramento State’s Pac-12 committee raises $35M for NIL funds
Five days ago, the school announced plans for a new multi-use football stadium. The Sac12 executive committee announced Monday afternoon it has sourced $35 million in NIL funds from local businesses, community leaders and a local tribe in the last 24 hours. Read More
406 MT SPORTS
Big Sky Notebook: Sacramento State making push to join Pac-12; UC Davis beats Idaho
Sacramento State is not being quiet about its desire to move up to the FBS. Last week, the Big Sky Conference school unveiled plans to build a 25,000-seat, multi-use football stadium. On Monday afternoon, the committee spearheading Sac State’s potential FCS-to-FBS jump announced that it raised $35 million in name, image and likeness funds over the past 24 hours. Read More
Sacramento BEE
Sac State to the Pac-12? After latest expansion, capital-area power brokers make a pitch
With the expansion announcement this week of the Pac-12 Conference — gutted when longstanding members bolted in recent years for richer television deals in other conferences — there is a push in California’s capital to have Sacramento State added to the 108-year-old league. Read More *Picked up by Yahoo*
Front Office Sports
Local Committee Is Attempting to Propel Sacramento State Into the FBS
A group of community leaders in Sacramento are trying to take advantage of an unprecedented opportunity provided by the news of the Pac-12’s expansion… aimed at propelling Sacramento State from FCS to FBS football through an invite from either the Pac-12 or Mountain West. Read More
AP
Committee hopes to elevate Sacramento State to FBS level of football
Local officials have launched a committee aimed at helping Sacramento State move to the highest level of college football with hopes of getting an invitation down the road to either the Pac-12 or Mountain West conferences. Read More *Picked up by CT Insider, Washington Post*
CBS
Local leaders launch effort to get Sacramento State into Pac-12
Sacramento State is currently an FCS school, in the lower division when it comes to sports. Local politicians and business leaders want to change that, by making it an FBS school to make it on par to potentially join the Pac-12. They’re launching a new committee with a play on words, called the Sac-12. Read More
Sac Town Sports
The Sac12 aims to lift Sacramento State to the next level
Sacramento State is taking its shot at joining the Pac-12 or Mountain West Conference. According to a report published by Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich on Thursday afternoon, local politicians and business leaders in the Sacramento area were planning to launch a campaign to lift Sacramento State from the FCS into the FCS. Read More
Sac Town Sports
Sacramento State is looking to join the Pac-12 or Mountain West Conference
Amid all of the recent changes to college sports conferences, Sacramento State is reportedly looking to join the Pac-12 or Mountain West Conference. According to a report published by Front Office Sports’ Amanda Christovich, local politicians and business leaders in the Sacramento area are planning to launch a campaign to lift Sacramento State from the FCS into the FCS. Read More
Nevada Sports Net
Who the Mountain West should target next to rebuild conference after Pac-12 defections
The Hornets have made it known they want in the MW or Pac-12. Sac State could be a solid addition for the MW. It’s in a big media market and has made the FCS playoffs in four of the last five years. The Hornets have a baseball program, which all of a sudden is important. Sac State sponsors 19 sports, a big number, and seems ready to make the jump to the FBS. Read More
Nevada Sports Net
More insight into Mountain West and Pac-12 after latter takes four schools from former
SAC12, is launching today with the goal of taking Sacramento State Athletics to the next level by also joining the Pac-12. The Sacramento State Hornets, currently members of the Big Sky Conference, won 7 conference championships in 2023, reside in the 20th largest media market in the country and with a student population of over 30k, are the 4th largest university in the Cal State system. Read More
ABC 10
Committee hopes to elevate Sacramento State to FBS level of football
The committee, named SAC12 and independent from the school, includes state and local politicians, business and union leaders, and former Hornets receiver and NFL player Otis Amey. It was launched on Friday, a day after the latest round of conference realignment hit the FBS. Read More
Clutch Points
Sacramento State making strong push for Pac-12, MWC invite amid expansion buzz
“Sacramento’s local politicians and business leaders are planning a campaign to help get Sacramento State into the Pac-12 or Mountain West, a source tells FOS,” reported Front Office Sports on the social media site. “The school would need to undergo the NCAA’s FBS transition process.” Read More *Picked up by MSN*
Fox 40
“SAC12” committee forms to push for Sac State joining the Pac-12
The Pac-12 is back, kind of. It still only has two members at the moment. But in 2026, it will have six members with the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State. A committee called “Sac12” was formed on Friday to help take Sacramento State “to the next level by also joining the Pac-12.” Read More
Extra Points
What I’m hearing about Pac-12 expansion, the MWC, and everybody else
FOS is reporting that business and civic leaders around Sacramento plan to make a push for Sacramento State to move up to the FBS ranks, and fans and boosters of other institutions could potentially make similar pitches. It’s unclear to me, at least immediately, if the effort described here by FOS is made specifically in concert with the athletic department or university leadership. Read More
BVM Sports
Sacramento State’s ‘Sac-12’ Efforts to Join FBS Amid Conference Shifts
A newly formed executive committee called the “Sac-12” is pushing to elevate Sacramento State from FCS to FBS football amid the Pac-12’s expansion. Comprising local politicians and business figures, the committee aims to secure an invitation from either the Pac-12 or Mountain West following the conference’s addition of four Mountain West schools in 2026. Read More
