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

Off the field, the program is working through a bigger problem. A plan to play games at Cal Expo this season fell through, leaving the Hornets' new stadium project without a clear path forward. No replacement site has been identified, keeping the stadium situation without a clear answer heading into the rest of the 2026 season.