The Big West School Spotlight: Sacramento State

6/26/2026 10:00:00 AM

See the full 2025-26 School Spotlight Series - About, UCSB, CP, LBSU, UCR, CSUN, CSUB, UCI, UCSD, CSF, UVU, CBU

California’s capital university, Sacramento State provides world-class, affordable education in the political, cultural, and economic heart of the Golden State.

Sacramento State is a recognized leader in education, innovation, and engagement, dedicated to the belief that there are no limits to the student body's potential for excellence and success. The vibrant and diverse community is united by a shared intellectual curiosity, commitment to improving the world, and passion for redefining the possible. Sacramento State is a federally designated Hispanic-serving institution and Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution and is recognized by the California State Assembly as a Black Serving Instution.

Transitioning from the Big Sky Conference, the Hornets will compete in The Big West in 16 sports: baseball, men’s and women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s and women’s cross country, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s track & field and women’s volleyball. Prior to 2026-27, Sacramento State was competing as a current affiliate in men's soccer and beach volleyball with prior affliate membership in men's golf and baseball also dotting the history books.

SCHOOL FACTS

Location:	Sacramento, Calif.
Founded	1947
Nickname:	Hornets
Enrollment:	31,477
Alumni:	290,000+
President:	Dr. Luke Wood
Athletic Director:	Mark Orr
Full Big West Member Beginning:	July 1, 2026

BUILDING TOWARD BOLD MOMENTS

An affiliate in various Big West sports in recent years, Sacramento State have been full members of the Big Sky for the past 20 years after making the leap to Division I in the fall of 1991.

The women have won six Big Sky All-Sport trophies with the most recent coming in 2015-16. The trophy is designed to award schools for their overall athletic excellence with one for each gender as well as combined annual award.

In 2025-26, the Hornets took home three spring Big Sky titles after hoisting the the team trophy and earning individual medalist honors in men's golf and claiming both the regular and postseason crown in women's tennis. It was the third straight tournament title for the women's netters and program's 14th overall.

Sacramento State is in the midst of a period of growth in both athletics and academics, opening the the doors to the Hornet Pavilion last season, the new home of men's and women's basketball, and announcing the upcoming introduction of the NCAA emerging sport of women's flag football to the department. Additionally, the school recently advanced a first-of-its-kind downtown economic development initiative withhin the CSU system in downtown Sacramento - a 2 to 5 million square foot mixed-use development Capital Campus, now in its master planning phase.

Hornet Pavilion Grand Opening - Nov. 3, 2025

Located inside the WELL, the 3,000 seat facility features a new design, bleachers, video boards and sound system

Downtown Sacramento - future site of the Capital Campus

2025-26 Big Sky Champions

2026 Men's Golf

2026 Women's Tennis (regular & postseason)

NOTABLE ALUMS IN THE PROS/OLYMPICS

Rhys Hoskins

DaRon Bland

Benji Kikanovic

Suzy Brookshire

ACADEMICS

The ranking measures a university’s ability to successfully enroll and graduate economically disadvantaged students. It highlights institutions that act as engines of upward economic opportunity. [2025]
The ranking identifies institutions that scored highest in standardized testing proficiency, graduation rates, and college or career readiness. [2025]
The ranking identifies universities and colleges making higher education more affordable and accessible for veterans, active-duty service members, and military-dependent students. [2025]
The ranking means the school focuses primarily on undergraduate education and master's programs rather than heavy doctoral research. These universities are divided into four geographic regions: North, South, Midwest, and West. [2025]