Sacramento State faced off against Mississippi Valley State on September 5 with backup quarterback Jackson Sharman taking snaps after starter Carson Conklin was ruled out for the home opener. Sharman got the start as the Hornets opened at home without their first-string quarterback.

Off the field, the program is facing a bigger problem. A plan to play games at Cal Expo this season fell through, leaving the Hornets' new stadium project without a solid next step. No new location has been announced, keeping the stadium situation up in the air heading into the rest of the 2026 season.