The MAC travel is going to be brutal on the budget. Flying teams back and forth across the country isn’t cheap, and those costs can easily climb higher than what they’ve projected. They’re not getting a dime of conference revenue for the first five years, which basically stretches out the financial stress window even longer. realistically, their athletic budget has to grow a lot if they want to keep up with FBS‑level coaching salaries, facilities, and recruiting expectations.
Sacramento State can make this work, but only if the long‑term revenue boost they’re banking on exposure, buy‑game money, donor growth, and increased enrollment actually comes through. Right now, they’re taking on a massive financial gamble with a pretty lean budget and trusting that the FBS spotlight will pay off.