Sacramento State vs Eastern Michigan Prediction: The Start of the New MAC

The MAC season starts now with a new team and a new era that makes it even more of a national story.

Sacramento State not only moves up into the FBS, but it hits the ground running with a conference game close to 2,300 miles away against an Eastern Michigan team needing a hot start after three straight losing seasons.

• Eastern Michigan won four straight season openers before dropping last year’s date at Texas State 52-27. It also lost seven of its last eight MAC openers.

• Sacramento State is coming off a 7-5 season, but it’s all but starting over in several key areas under new head coach Alonzo Carter.
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• There’s a great chance for EMU to get off to a hot start with San Jose State up next, and winnable games against Lindenwood, UMass, and Akron after dealing with Michigan State and Wisconsin. 

Eastern Michigan won four straight season openers before dropping last year’s date at Texas State 52-27. It also lost seven of its last eight MAC openers.

Sacramento State is coming off a 7-5 season, but it’s all but starting over in several key areas under new head coach Alonzo Carter.

There’s a great chance for EMU to get off to a hot start with San Jose State up next, and winnable games against Lindenwood, UMass, and Akron after dealing with Michigan State and Wisconsin. 

Date: Saturday, August 29, 2026
Game Time: 6:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN+
Location: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI
– CFN Week 0 Schedule, Predictions

The Hornets might be putting all the puzzle pieces together, but they pulled in a strong quarterback from the portal in Carson Conklin from Fresno State pushing the ball down the field. But it’ll be the ground attack that gets the early work.

Eastern Michigan let everyone run amok, allowing a nation-worst 232 rushing yards per game. There’s a nice group of promising backs that should do a decent job in a rotation.
– Sacramento State 2026 Preview

Sacramento State has experience, but the depth isn’t there yet, and there’s not a lot of FBS-level talent across the board. The Eastern Michigan lines have to take over early on.

It’ll be the passing game that takes over right away. The Eagles had to throw a lot to keep up in games last season, and now there’s enough time logged in to be ready right away. It starts with veteran quarterback Noah Kim – he led the MAC in pass attempts – pushing a green Hornet secondary.

The energy and fight will be there from Sacramento State from the start, but the team will need a few games under its belt to know what it has to work with.

Eastern Michigan is hardly a world-beater, but it’ll be efficient and effective in the second half as it starts to pull away. The run defense won’t be able to shut anything down, but it’ll hold up in the fourth.

Eastern Michigan 31, Sacramento State 23
Latest Consensus Line: Eastern Michigan -9.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence (out of 5): 1.5
Must See Rating (out of 5): 2

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.