By Larry Hicks | OBSERVER Staff Writer
Sacramento State: Quick Facts?
Founded: September 22, 1947
Student enrollment (Fall 2024): 30,193
Intercollegiate Sports Began: 1948-49 year (men’s basketball, baseball, men’s tennis); football was added in 1954.
Current number of Division I sports (M/W): 21
Men: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field
Women: Basketball, Beach Volleyball, Cross Country, Golf, Gymnastics, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Indoor Track & Field, Outdoor Track & Field, Volleyball
Conference affiliation: Big Sky (member since 1996; baseball team plays in the Western Athletic Conference); moving to the Big West (except football) in 2026-27 academic year.
Athletic Facilities
Hornet Stadium (Football): This venue, which is also used for track and field, seats 21,195 spectators. The university is in preliminary talks to build a long-term stadium at Cal Expo, about three miles away from campus, on ground once used for horseracing,
The Nest (Basketball): The basketball arena, built in 1955, has a seating capacity of 1,012. The school is remodeling the campus events center that will replace the Nest and provide more seating.
Recent Sports Accomplishments
- 17 conference titles since 2020.
- Football appeared in FCS Playoffs in 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023 – the last three as conference champions.
- Women’s Basketball made first NCAA Div. I Tournament in 2023.
- Women’s golf team was named the university’s Team of the Year in 2024 for continuing its dominance of the Big Sky winning their third straight conference title.
- Women’s volleyball: Won the 2024 Big Sky Conference Tournament title, and received an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.