2023 Sacramento State Hornets football | |
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Conference | Big Sky Conference |
Ranking | |
STATS | No. 13 |
FCS Coaches | No. 15 |
Record | 8–5 (4–4 Big Sky) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Bobby Fresques (1st season) |
Home stadium | Hornet Stadium |
Conf. | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 2 Montana $^ | 7 | – | 1 | 13 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 8 Idaho ^ | 6 | – | 2 | 9 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 9 Montana State ^ | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Arizona | 5 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 24 UC Davis | 5 | – | 3 | 7 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
No. 13 Sacramento State ^ | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Portland State | 4 | – | 4 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weber State | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eastern Washington | 3 | – | 5 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Idaho State | 3 | – | 5 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cal Poly | 1 | – | 7 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Northern Colorado | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The 2023 Sacramento State Hornets football team represented California State University, Sacramento as a member of the Big Sky Conference during the 2023 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Andy Thompson, the Hornets played home games at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California.
Previously the Hornets' defensive coordinator for four seasons under Troy Taylor, Thompson was promoted in December 2022 after Taylor left for Stanford University. [1]
On July 23, 2023, during the virtual Big Sky Kickoff, the Hornets were predicted to finish third in the Big Sky by the coaches and fourth by the media. [2]
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
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1 | Montana State | 120 (10) |
2 | UC Davis | 96 (1) |
3 | Sacramento State | 94 (1) |
4 | Weber State | 91 |
5 | Idaho | 89 |
6 | Montana | 84 |
7 | Eastern Washington | 52 |
8 | Portland State | 45 |
9 | Northern Arizona | 44 |
10 | Northern Colorado | 37 |
11 | Cal Poly | 25 |
12 | Idaho State | 15 |
Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
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1 | Montana State | 447 (26) |
2 | Idaho | 410 (8) |
3 | Montana | 359 (2) |
4 | Sacramento State | 334 (3) |
5 | UC Davis | 330 |
6 | Weber State | 320 |
7 | Eastern Washington | 216 |
8 | Northern Arizona | 178 |
9 | Portland State | 167 |
10 | Northern Colorado | 109 |
11 | Cal Poly | 103 |
12 | Idaho State | 69 |
Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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August 31 | 4:00 p.m. | at Nicholls * | No. 10 | ESPN+ | W 38–24 | 5,134 | |
September 9 | 7:00 p.m. | Texas A&M–Commerce * | No. 9 | KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | W 34–6 | 12,316 | |
September 16 | 5:00 p.m. | at Stanford * | No. 8 | P12N | W 30–23 | 23,848 | |
September 23 | 1:00 p.m. | at No. 7 Idaho | No. 4 | KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | L 27–36 | 9,433 | |
September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | Northern Arizona | No. 8 |
| KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | W 31–30 | 12,549 |
October 14 | 12:00 p.m. | at Northern Colorado | No. 4 | ESPN+ | W 21–13 | 4,783 | |
October 21 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 2 Montana State | No. 3 |
| ESPN2 | L 30–42 | 16,122 |
October 28 | 6:00 p.m. | Idaho State ![]() | No. 6 |
| KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | W 51–16 | 13,733 |
November 4 | 5:00 p.m. | at No. 4 Montana | No. 7 | KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | L 7–34 | 25,888 | |
November 11 | 2:00 p.m. | Cal Poly | No. 9 |
| KMAX-TV/ESPN+ | W 41–30 | 12,022 |
November 18 | 12:00 p.m. | at UC Davis | No. 8 | ESPN+ | L 21–31 | 11,622 | |
November 25 | 10:00 a.m. | at No. 12 North Dakota * | No. 15 | ESPN+ | W 42–35 | 6,522 | |
December 2 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 3 South Dakota * | No. 15 |
| ESPN+ | L 24–34 | 6,288 |
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Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 10 Hornets | 7 | 10 | 7 | 14 | 38 |
Colonels | 0 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | NICH |
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First downs | 22 | 18 |
Total yards | 441 | 293 |
Rushing yards | 185 | 97 |
Passing yards | 256 | 196 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 16–27–1 | 15–29–1 |
Time of possession | 33:11 | 26:49 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 11/16, 221 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 19 carries, 71 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Devin Gandy | 3 receptions, 82 yards | |
Nicholls | Passing | Pat McQuaide | 15/29, 196 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | Collin Guggenheim | 16 carries, 74 yards | |
Receiving | Terry Matthews | 1 reception, 84 yards |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Lions | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
No. 9 Hornets | 10 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 34 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | TAMC | SAC |
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First downs | 13 | 28 |
Total yards | 216 | 503 |
Rushing yards | 144 | 311 |
Passing yards | 72 | 192 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 13–27–1 | 17–26–1 |
Time of possession | 29:08 | 30:52 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Texas A&M–Commerce | Passing | Peter Parrish | 12/25, 63 yards, INT |
Rushing | Reggie Branch | 14 carries, 65 yards | |
Receiving | Micaelous Elder | 6 receptions, 33 yards | |
Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 14/22, 176 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | 10 carries, 101 yards, 2 TD | ||
Receiving | Coleman Kuntz | 4 receptions, 68 yards | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 8 Hornets | 3 | 14 | 3 | 10 | 30 |
Cardinal | 7 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 23 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | STAN |
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First downs | 23 | 18 |
Total yards | 448 | 387 |
Rushing yards | 169 | 180 |
Passing yards | 279 | 207 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 21–33–2 | 11–24–2 |
Time of possession | 30:57 | 29:03 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 21/33, 279 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | 13 carries, 100 yards, TD | ||
Receiving | Devin Gandy | 5 receptions, 64 yards | |
Stanford | Passing | Justin Lamson | 7/17, 138 yards, INT |
Rushing | E. J. Smith | 9 carries, 71 yards | |
Receiving | Elic Ayomanor | 4 receptions, 89 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 4 Hornets | 3 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 27 |
No. 7 Vandals | 3 | 10 | 14 | 9 | 36 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | IDHO |
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First downs | 18 | 21 |
Total yards | 305 | 412 |
Rushing yards | 69 | 178 |
Passing yards | 236 | 234 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–29–0 | 15–21–0 |
Time of possession | 21:21 | 38:39 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 15/29, 236 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 10 carries, 44 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Jared Gipson | 3 receptions, 91 yards | |
Idaho | Passing | Gevani McCoy | 15/21, 234 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Anthony Woods | 24 carries, 117 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Hayden Hatten | 7 receptions, 72 yards | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Lumberjacks | 7 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 30 |
No. 8 Hornets | 14 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 31 |
at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA
Game information | ||
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Statistics | NAU | SAC |
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First downs | 21 | 25 |
Total yards | 450 | 418 |
Rushing yards | 195 | 161 |
Passing yards | 255 | 257 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 24–34–1 | 18–27–0 |
Time of possession | 30:13 | 29:47 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Northern Arizona | Passing | Adam Damante | 23/33, 196 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | Devon Starling | 21 carries, 117 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Elijah Taylor | 2 receptions, 73 yards | |
Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 18/27, 257 yards, TD |
Rushing | 22 carries, 76 yards | ||
Receiving | Jared Gipson | 5 receptions, 108 yards | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 4 Hornets | 14 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Bears | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 13 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | UNC |
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First downs | 23 | 17 |
Total yards | 334 | 332 |
Rushing yards | 151 | 75 |
Passing yards | 183 | 257 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 25–31–0 | 20–39–0 |
Time of possession | 30:57 | 29:03 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 25/31, 183 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Ezra Moleni | 16 carries, 93 yards | |
Receiving | Marshel Martin | 7 receptions, 52 yards | |
Northern Colorado | Passing | Jacob Sirmon | 20/39, 257 yards, TD |
Rushing | David Afari | 10 carries, 36 yards | |
Receiving | Brayden Munroe | 3 receptions, 66 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 2 Bobcats | 0 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 42 |
No. 3 Hornets | 7 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 30 |
at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA
Game information | ||
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Statistics | MTST | SAC |
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First downs | 26 | 25 |
Total yards | 448 | 434 |
Rushing yards | 328 | 200 |
Passing yards | 120 | 234 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 10–16–1 | 26–42–2 |
Time of possession | 32:40 | 27:20 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Montana State | Passing | Tommy Mellott | 9/14, 99 yards |
Rushing | Julius Davis | 12 carries, 110 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Ty McCullough | 4 receptions, 53 yards, TD | |
Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 26/42, 234 yards, TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Elijah Tau-Tolliver | 8 carries, 100 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Devin Gandy | 5 receptions, 59 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Bengals | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
No. 6 Hornets | 14 | 10 | 20 | 7 | 51 |
at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA
Game information | ||
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Statistics | ISU | SAC |
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First downs | 16 | 26 |
Total yards | 334 | 587 |
Rushing yards | 42 | 273 |
Passing yards | 292 | 314 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 30–56–4 | 21–32–1 |
Time of possession | 24:55 | 35:05 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Idaho State | Passing | Hunter Hays | 17/31, 193 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | 7 carries, 22 yards | ||
Receiving | Chedon James | 10 receptions, 77 yards, TD | |
Sacramento State | Passing | Carson Conklin | 14/21, 235 yards, 3 TD |
Rushing | Zeke Burnett | 9 carries, 143 yards | |
Receiving | Marshel Martin | 6 receptions, 103 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 7 Hornets | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
No. 4 Grizzlies | 7 | 14 | 0 | 13 | 34 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | MONT |
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First downs | 17 | 21 |
Total yards | 268 | 547 |
Rushing yards | 149 | 305 |
Passing yards | 119 | 242 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–39–0 | 12–22–1 |
Time of possession | 24:19 | 35:41 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Carson Conklin | 7/22, 67 yards |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 11 carries, 87 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Carlos Hill | 4 receptions, 53 yards | |
Montana | Passing | Clifton McDowell | 11/21, 218 yards, 2 TD, INT |
Rushing | Eli Gillman | 16 carries, 113 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Keelan White | 2 receptions, 103 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mustangs | 10 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 30 |
No. 9 Hornets | 14 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 41 |
at Hornet Stadium, Sacramento, CA
Game information | ||
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Statistics | CP | SAC |
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First downs | 24 | 23 |
Total yards | 539 | 538 |
Rushing yards | 45 | 225 |
Passing yards | 494 | 313 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 38–59–2 | 17–26–1 |
Time of possession | 29:37 | 30:23 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Cal Poly | Passing | Sam Huard | 37/58, 483 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT |
Rushing | Paul Holyfield Jr. | 7 carries, 27 yards, TD | |
Receiving | Michael Briscoe | 3 receptions, 124 yards, 2 TD | |
Sacramento State | Passing | Carson Conklin | 17/26, 313 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 20 carries, 121 yards | |
Receiving | Jared Gipson | 5 receptions, 154 yards | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 8 Hornets | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Aggies | 14 | 3 | 0 | 14 | 31 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | UCD |
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First downs | 22 | 17 |
Total yards | 388 | 308 |
Rushing yards | 27 | 133 |
Passing yards | 361 | 175 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 32–53–2 | 16–23–0 |
Time of possession | 28:07 | 31:53 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 19/28, 232 yards, 3 TD, INT |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 10 carries, 23 yards | |
Receiving | Carlos Hill | 10 receptions, 144 yards, TD | |
UC Davis | Passing | Miles Hastings | 16/23, 175 yards, TD |
Rushing | Lan Larison | 28 carries, 121 yards, 3 TD | |
Receiving | 3 receptions, 54 yards, TD | ||
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 15 Hornets | 14 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 42 |
No. 12 Fighting Hawks | 7 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 35 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | UND |
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First downs | 26 | 21 |
Total yards | 458 | 358 |
Rushing yards | 244 | 221 |
Passing yards | 212 | 137 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 18–23–0 | 11–18–1 |
Time of possession | 26:36 | 33:24 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Kaiden Bennett | 17/22, 207 yards, TD |
Rushing | 13 carries, 126 yards, 2 TD | ||
Receiving | Anderson Grover | 6 receptions, 96 yards, TD | |
North Dakota | Passing | Tommy Schuster | 11/17, 137 yards, TD, INT |
Rushing | Gaven Ziebarth | 18 carries, 96 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Bo Belquist | 5 receptions, 90 yards, TD | |
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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No. 15 Hornets | 0 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 24 |
No. 3 Coyotes | 3 | 21 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
Game information | ||
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Statistics | SAC | USD |
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First downs | 18 | 15 |
Total yards | 350 | 368 |
Rushing yards | 148 | 194 |
Passing yards | 202 | 174 |
Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 17–30–1 | 11–17–0 |
Time of possession | 27:13 | 32:47 |
Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
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Sacramento State | Passing | Carson Camp | 14/23, 168 yards, TD |
Rushing | Marcus Fulcher | 13 carries, 67 yards, 2 TD | |
Receiving | Anderson Grover | 3 receptions, 79 yards | |
South Dakota | Passing | Aidan Bouman | 11/16, 174 yards, 2 TD |
Rushing | Charles Pierre Jr. | 13 carries, 123 yards | |
Receiving | JJ Galbreath | 1 reception, 75 yards, TD | |
Week | ||||||||||||||
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Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | Final |
STATS FCS | 10 | 9 | 8 | 4 (1) | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 8 | 15 | 13 |
Coaches | 8 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 16 | 16 |