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Articles by Jack Dann
Monday Morning Quarterback: Sac State is finding their fight
After winning their first conference game against Kent State, Sacramento State was faced with a short week and one of the Mid-American’s toughest teams.Despite every reason to roll over, the Hornets took visiting Toledo to the brink, coming up just short in a 20-17 loss. Head Coach Alonzo Carter isn’t much for moral victories, but he couldn’t help but acknowledge the progress they’ve made.“I know who we are and what we stand for,” Carter said.
Rein check: Santa Clara defeats Sac State after second-half rally
After a physical back-and-forth first half, the Santa Clara Broncos opened the second half hot, building a double-digit lead against the visiting Sacramento State Hornets.Down 10, sophomore guard Taj Glover immediately made his presence felt. From the top of the arc, he found senior guard Larry Hughes II on a relocation three, cutting the deficit to 10.
Sac State outlasts Jessup to win season opener
Sacramento State men’s basketball opened their season with a gritty win over Jessup University, opening their season strong before a tough non-conference stretch. From the first minute Jessup made their physical identity clear, pressing the Hornets as soon as they crossed midcourt. Initially, this caused problems for head coach Mike Bibby and the Hornets, who struggled to break the press during the beginning of the game.
Monday Morning Quarterback: Sac State finally has a signature win
Categories: The Hornets finally delivered the complete performance their FBS move demanded. All season, Sacramento State has been searching for a signature moment, something to hold on to amidst a brutal season of growing pains. At long last, the Hornets found it against Kent State, earning their first conference win and the first FBS win of head coach Alonzo Carter’s career.
Manifest West-iny: Sac State aims for success in new conference
Sacramento State doesn’t want to be the new kid on the block, as the Hornets begin their inaugural season as a part of The Big West Conference. Entering his second season at the helm, head coach Mike Bibby has assembled a retooled roster loaded with talent, in hopes of addressing many of the flaws that led the Hornets to a 10-21 record in his first year.
Hasan Piker rallies hundreds for Mai Vang in final election push
Hundreds of supporters gathered at Sacramento’s Southside Park on Wednesday afternoon for a get-out-the-vote event for Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang, who is challenging longtime incumbent Rep. Doris Matsui for the California 7th Congressional District seat.
Buzzin’ at the Ballot Box: Mai Vang challenges longtime Rep. Doris Matsui
Categories: Two Sacramento Democrats face off for California’s 7th District seat, offering competing visions for the region’s future California’s 7th Congressional District seat is up for election during this year’s midterms, pitting current incumbent Democratic Rep. Doris Matsui and current Democratic Sacramento City Councilwoman Mai Vang against each other. California’s 7th Congressional District, or CA-07, includes West Sacramento, Sacramento, Elk Grove and several other nearby communities.
Monday Morning Quarterback: Sac State shows progress, but familiar problems persist against Ball State
Sacramento State turned in their best performance of the season against Ball State, but ultimately, they were undone by familiar issues as they slipped to 1-7 on the season. It was a game of many firsts for the Hornets; their first lead after a first quarter, their first non-fourth quarter offensive touchdown and their first game with multiple defensive turnovers.
Monday Morning Quarterback: A look ahead at Sac State’s FBS future
While Sacramento State was able to fill Hornet Stadium with a near-capacity crowd, and create a fun atmosphere for their homecoming matchup against Ohio, it didn’t take long for the energy to drain out of the stadium. By the time the Hornets got their first score, a 38-yard touchdown thrown by third-string sophomore quarterback Brian Salazar to junior wideout Kenyon Shabazz at the end of the fourth quarter, the game was already lost.
‘I don’t have the luxury of waiting:’ Mai Vang envisions a government for working people
For congressional candidate and current Sacramento city councilwoman Mai Vang, her current battle for California’s 7th Congressional District seat is one that will define politics in the region and across the nation. Vang is a part of a growing progressive movement that has swept across the country, a movement that aims to upset the Democratic status quo and capture the attention of voters everywhere ahead of the midterms.
Monday Morning Quarterback: Sac State’s mistakes compound in loss to Bowling Green
After losing to Bowling Green this week, Sacramento State finds themselves in the conference basement, with their 1-5 record and 0-3 in-conference record placing them dead last. Against FBS opponents, the Hornets have looked consistently overmatched and have hardly had a chance to get into games. After taking an early lead, Sac State watched Bowling Green score 38 unanswered points, turning what was initially a competitive game into another blowout.
‘Digger’ brings spectacle to a world on the brink
As Alejandro G. Iñárritu reveals the first of many twists in Digger, which debuts in theaters starting on Oct. 2, Tom Cruise complains that the character he’s playing is too exaggerated, too pretentious, too much. It’s a moment of self-criticism that almost feels prophetic, as if Iñárritu anticipated the largely negative reviews and gave his leading man the first word. The film opens inside the lavish mansion of Digger Rockwell, an eccentric oil baron played by a transformed Cruise.
Monday Morning Quarterback: Sac State’s growing pains loom large
After a brutal two-week stretch against Fresno State and North Dakota State, Sacramento State welcomed the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, to begin conference play.The upstart Minutemen, who rode into the game undefeated, represented an opportunity for the Hornets to bounce back. With fans still filtering into Hornet Stadium, UMass orchestrated a three minute touchdown drive, punctuated by Minutemen senior quarterback Pop Watson IV’s 13-yard score.
If you simply looked at the box score, Sacramento State’s 31-10 loss to North Dakota State seemed fairly straightforward. The Bison jumped out to a 14-point lead in less than five minutes, stretched it to 28-3 by halftime and spent the second half keeping the Hornets at arm’s length. On paper, it looked like another game where Sac State simply couldn’t hang with one of the best teams on its schedule.
Monday Morning Quarterback: A harsh reality check in Fresno
The optimism built from Sacramento State’s win the prior week came crashing down to reality in a second-week blowout at the hands of Fresno State. Expectations for the Hornets were tempered entering Saturday, but a 46-point annihilation seemed unlikely. For a quarter, Sac State looked capable of hanging around. The Hornets kept Fresno State off the scoreboard through the opening period and had opportunities of their own to establish an early foothold. Then everything unraveled.
Monday Morning Quarterback: What was real in Sac State’s 52-0 win?
This week’s Monday Morning Quarterback has an overarching theme. Sacramento State dismantled Mississippi Valley State 52-0 Saturday, but there’s only so much that can be learned from beating up on an overmatched opponent. According to the SP+ college football rankings, the Delta Devils entered the week ranked 436th in the nation, behind several Division III and NAIA programs. The Hornets’ next two opponents, Fresno State and North Dakota State, ranked 77th and 54th, respectively.
Sac State hosts Mississippi Valley State in historic FBS home opener
After dropping their opener to Eastern Michigan, Sacramento State (0-1, 0-1) travels back to the state’s capital to take on Mississippi Valley State (0-1, 0-0) for their home opener. The Delta Devils come off of a 44-10 blowout loss to Nicholls State, a program that Sac State beat twice in a home and away series in 2023 and 2024.
Monday Morning Quarterback: Looking beyond the box score in Sac State’s FBS debut
The dust has settled, the box score has been stared at long enough, and I’ve rewatched Sacramento State’s debutante loss to Eastern Michigan. This aptly named column will dive into the film, breaking down the highs and lows of the prior game’s performances, looking for hidden gems and places of improvement throughout Sac State’s historic season.
Amid years of change, Derek Houston remains a constant for Sac State football
Sacramento State football has been a revolving door over the last four years, cycling through coaches, players and conferences since the departure of former head coach Troy Taylor. Junior linebacker Derek Houston has watched the environment change from his place in the heart of the Hornet defense. “I get this question a lot, everyone asks, ‘What’s it like moving like a different coach every year?’” Houston said.
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is everything en epic should be
Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” released in theatres July 2026 is, appropriately, a film of enormous scale. Running nearly three hours, Nolan’s adaptation has the length to match its ambitions, following Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, on his journey home from the beaches of Troy. Troy is more than the starting point of his journey. After ten years of war, he leaves behind his wartime world where his cunning has made him a hero.
UCLA punches ticket to the Final Four after second-half surge
Halfway through the Elite Eight matchup between Duke and UCLA on Sunday at Golden 1 Center, the underdog Blue Devils had the Bruins on the ropes, suffocating their usually potent offense and building an 8-point lead. For just the second time this season, the Bruins trailed at half and went to the locker room looking for answers. “We can’t have these slow starts,” senior center Lauren Betts said. “It speaks to the maturity of this team.
Day Two: South Carolina applies the pressure, TCU drives to Elite Eight
No. 1 South Carolina 94, No. 4 Oklahoma 68 From the opening tip, head coach Dawn Staley’s South Carolina team proved their first-seed pedigree on Saturday in their Sweet 16 matchup against Oklahoma at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Powered by a two-pronged offensive attack of senior guards Ta’Niya Latson and Raven Johnson, the Gamecocks jumped to an early 10-0 lead. The Gamecocks coasted from that point forward, ending the first half 47-28.
Bruins versus Bluebloods: Conference champions collide in the Elite Eight
After a pair of riveting games on Friday, the first game of the Sacramento Regional final will feature the ACC Champion Duke Blue Devils against the Big Ten Champion UCLA Bruins. The Bruins dominated their Sweet 16 matchup with Minnesota, demolishing the Golden Gophers in a paint-centric beatdown in which the top-seeded UCLA outscored their opponent 55-22 down low. Senior center Lauren Betts scored 16 points and recorded five blocks, while senior guard Kiki Rice contributed a game-high 21 points.
Sacramento Madness: Women’s NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen preview
For the first time since 2010, Sacramento will host games for the Women’s March Madness tournament, showcasing many of the sport’s top names in the process. The games for the Sweet 16 will be played on Friday and Saturday at the Golden 1 Center, with many highly anticipated matchups on the schedule. Minnesota vs.
It’s Zo time: Sac State releases their 2026 football schedule
A little over a month after Sacramento State’s move into the Mid-American Conference, the much-anticipated schedule for the 2026 season has finally been released today. Their first season in the MAC will feature just two opponents they’ve played in the past, Fresno State, who they’ve played five times previously; and fellow FBS newcomers, North Dakota State, who they’ve played just once. The former will be played in Fresno on Sept. 12, while the latter will be a home game on Sept. 19.
State Hornet Bracketology: Our March Madness picks
In the few days between Selection Sunday and the tip-off of March Madness, millions of fans nationwide run to their sports website of choice and fill out their brackets, hoping to become the first to ever get one perfect. The odds of doing so are short. Statistically, they’re about one in 9,223,372,036,854,775,808. In the face of such dizzying statistical improbability, the State Hornet has assembled a panel of experts to guide your bracket-making hands.
Sac State’s FBS move has undergone scrutiny: Everything you need to know
Editor’s Note: This is an ongoing story and will be updated as updates and new information become available. On Feb. 16, Sacramento State officially joined the Mid-American Conference, making the leap into college football’s highest division, the FBS. Since then, as the financial information on the university’s move has become public, questions have arisen about the viability and legitimacy of the numbers presented.
Red-hot Eastern Washington erupts early to stun Sac State
As much of the crowd was still making their way to the seats of the Hornet Pavilion, a red-hot Eastern Washington offense began dissecting Sacramento State’s defense just seconds after winning the tip-off. The Eagles set a pair of screens along the baseline, challenging head coach Mike Bibby’s man defense to stay engaged. Senior guard Prophet Johnson was screened once while trailing redshirt senior guard Tyler Powell, then screened again by Powell and darted to the perimeter.
OPINION: The Kings suck - and that’s okay
Early in the fourth quarter of the Sacramento Kings’ Feb. 6 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, rookie big man Dylan Cardwell collected a low bounce pass from guard Devin Carter, before calmly flipping a hook shot over the extended arm of Clippers center Brook Lopez. The shot would force a Clippers timeout, giving Cardwell center stage to rile up the crowd. Like they have all season, the arena responded to his theatrics, and for a brief moment, the big picture of the Kings’ season was forgotten.
Sacramento State officially joins the Mid-American Conference
Two days ago, it was announced that Sacramento State would join the Mid-American Conference beginning in the 2026 season, becoming the first West Coast university to join college football’s highest division since 1969. Today, the deal becomes official, and for President Luke Wood, it’s a major step in his ambitious goals for the university. “We made a different offer to the MAC than we did to other conferences, because of the media value that they represented,” Wood said.
BREAKING: Sacramento State moves to the FBS, joining the MAC
Sacramento State has become the latest FCS program to make the leap to the FBS and will join the Mid-American Conference for the 2026 season. Sources: The MAC has voted to formally add FCS Sacramento State into the league as a football-only member starting in 2026. The cost of entrance is expected to be $18 million and a deal is expected to be announced in the upcoming days.
Foul trouble sinks Sac State in crucial loss to Vikings
Trailing No. 9 Portland State by eight in the fourth quarter, Sacramento State head coach Aaron Kallhoff had to take a risk. His star redshirt senior guard, Benthe Versteeg, had four fouls and was in foul trouble for a second straight game after fouling out in their recent loss to Weber State. Despite the risk, Kallhoff’s squad needed her two-way fire as the game had begun to slip with her on the bench.
The Double Dribble: Sac State’s basketball builds toward Boise
Categories: Offensive reinvention fuels the men’s team, while foul trouble and variance test the women’s team For both of Sacramento State’s basketball programs, the new year has brought new life, and both teams appear to be hitting their stride midway through conference play. In response to a seven-game losing skid, head coach Mike Bibby’s squad made a major change in their offensive philosophy and has gone 5-2 since.
Beyond the Buzzer: Mark Lavrenov
Categories: Sac State freshman Mark Larvenov talks first-year growth, team chemistry and adjusting to the college game Sac State men’s basketball freshman forward Mark Larvenov sits down to discuss his transition to the college game. He shares insight on his mindset, early development and goals into his first season. Your donation will support the student journalists of Sacramento State University. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
REPORT: Sac State willing to commit $15 million for FBS move
According to a report from Yahoo Sports, Sacramento State has approached multiple conferences with a $10 million entry fee, a number that doesn’t include the blanket $5 million fee to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS. Sacramento State is in the midst of an aggressive effort to join an FBS league, proposing a $10M+ entry fee plus forgoing league revenues, sources tell @YahooSports. Multiples conferences heard the pitch.
During a Friday afternoon practice between a pair of home games for Sacramento State, senior forward Fatoumata Jaiteh roamed the baseline as the Hornets prepared for their next opponent, Eastern Washington. In November, she suffered a knee injury that sidelined her for Sac State’s next 12 games. Without their veteran leader, the Hornets stumbled to a 4-8 record after a 5-2 start.
Home is where the hearth is: forged in fire, Carson Conklin returns home
Amidst a disappointing 2024 season, where Sacramento State only managed a 3-9 record under former second-year head coach Andy Thompson, the Hornets appeared to find their quarterback of the future. After earning the job down the stretch in his redshirt freshman year, Carson Conklin had a record-breaking second season. “It’s like being taught how to swim,” Conklin said. “It was a good thing for me to get thrown into the fire, I was able to learn fast.
The Double Dribble: Major injuries hinder Sac State’s Big Sky buildup
Within the same week in late November, both of Sacramento State’s basketball programs would suffer what to this point have been season-derailing losses. Halfway into the first half of what would become a blowout loss to UCLA on Nov. 18, senior forward Jeremiah “Bear” Cherry fell to the floor with a knee injury, hobbling off the floor with help from the medical staff. According to the team, Cherry has “no timetable” for a return.
A decade in the making: Alonzo Carter takes the reins at Sac State
Categories: Former Arizona position coach announced as program’s 14th playcaller During his introductory press conference, new Sacramento State head coach Alonzo Carter recalled a time when he sat atop the stands at Hornet Stadium during a football camp a decade ago. A decade in the making: Alonzo Carter takes the reins at Sac State “There was this moment when I sat at the top of the stadium 10 years ago,” Carter said. “It was at a camp. Everybody was gone.
Double Trouble: Sac State’s backcourt duo dictates the tempo
Categories: Led by their backcourt, Sac State’s identity hinges on ferocious defense Early into what would become a blowout win against Cal State Fullerton, junior guard Natalie Picton stands over the Sacramento State logo, awaiting the Titan ball handler in a low defensive stance. Once the incoming guard is close enough, Picton strikes, poking the ball loose with a calculated jab. With the ball in safe hands, she scans the floor, looking to capitalize on the turnover.
BREAKING: Alonzo Carter hired as Sac State football’s newest head coach
Categories: Carter, the current running backs coach at the University of Arizona, will be the 14th head coach in program history. Ten days after the departure of football head coach Brennan Marion to Colorado, Sacramento State has hired their new playcaller, University of Arizona running backs coach Alonzo Carter.
Portal Watch: Tracking Sac State’s offseason roster roulette
Categories: In the wake of Brennan Marion’s exit, another major football roster overhaul is expected After a whirlwind season that saw Sacramento State finish with a 7-5 record under first-year head coach Brennan Marion, establishing an identity as a power-run team with the Go-Go offense, it appeared that the foundation was set for next season.
BREAKING: Sac State head coach Brennan Marion to accept role at Colorado
Categories: After leading the Hornets to a 7-5 record, the 38-year-old playcaller will move on After just one season as Sacramento State’s playcaller, head coach Brennan Marion will be leaving the Hornets ahead of the 2026 campaign. Marion will allegedly be taking his talents to Boulder, joining University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders’ staff as their offensive coordinator.
Go-Go gut check: Looking back at a whirlwind year of Sac State football
Categories: The Hornets ended their season at 7-5, just missing the FCS playoffs As the dust settles on Sacramento State’s 2025 season, the program goes into the offseason with a multitude of questions when it comes to its future. Promises of a leap to the Football Bowl Subdivision and the school’s subsequent exit from the Big Sky Conference heightened expectations for the Hornets, who banked on receiving an invite to a conference in that upper echelon during the year.
Causeway Crumble: Sac State’s offense disappears late
Categories: After a physical game, the Hornets fell short in overtime With just 16 seconds on the clock in regulation and down by four, Sacramento State stared down what seemed like an insurmountable deficit Monday evening. UC Davis’ shots had begun to fall, and the Hornets needed an answer to stay in the fight.
Causeway Calamity: Sac State runs out of road
With seven minutes on the clock and holding a 3-point lead, Sacramento State lined up to attempt a fourth and 8 from UC Davis’ 39-yard line. The Hornets could have opted to punt, pinning the Aggies deep in their own territory and trusting their defense, but head coach Brennan Marion stayed with his aggressive approach. Junior quarterback Cardell Williams dropped back to throw, spotting junior wideout Jace Wilson downfield.
Causeway Curtain Call: Sac State’s playoff chances hang in the balance
Categories: In the season finale, it’s ‘win or play basketball’ Since 1954, Sacramento State and UC Davis have battled in one of the West Coast’s oldest college football rivalry games: the Causeway Classic. This rivalry has been a constant fixture in Sacramento-area sports, drawing crowds and generating buzz year after year. But after over 70 years of annual matchups, this year’s Causeway Classic may be the last.
Vandals Vanquished: Sac State snatches victory from the jaws of defeat
For a fleeting moment, it looked as if Sacramento State had let their playoff aspirations slip. After a turnover on downs deep in Idaho territory was followed by a dominant 91-yard touchdown drive by the Vandals, Sac State needed an answer. With three minutes on the scoreboard and a four-point deficit, the Hornets stared down one final drive to save their season.
The Double Dribble: Sacramento State basketball begins a season of change
Categories: It’s a ‘prove it’ year in different ways for Sac State’s basketball programs As the tree-lined pathways that snake through Sacramento State’s campus turn from green to shades of red and orange, a cultural change is afoot on the brand-new hardwood. Fans have packed the Hornets’ new arena, the Hornet Pavilion, creating an electric environment and an air of anticipation for conference play in a month and a half.
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