Sacramento State is coming off a disappointing 2024 season that saw it go 3-9 (1-7 Big Sky) after a No. 8 ranking coming into the season. Last year was a big step back for the Andy Thompson-led Hornets, who finished the season 8-5 in 2023, culminating in a second-round exit from the FCS tournament.
After the season, the team let go of Thompson, hiring UNLV offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brennan Marion in his place — his first head coaching position since a high school job in 2014.
Sacramento State Football Lands Massive Transfer Haul
Now, Marion is shaping the Hornets to his liking, bringing in an influx of players through the transfer portal.
Marion brought in 37 Division I transfers, 29 from the FBS and eight from the FCS, on the hunt to bring the Hornets back to their 2022 glory. That year, they went 11-0 and finished the regular season undefeated for the first time in team history, before losing as the No. 2 ranked team in the country in the FCS Quarterfinal to No. 5 Incarnate Word.
But Marion himself was a huge get for Sacramento State, as his “GO-GO” offense has tortured Mountain West defenses for the last two years, and he’s a known quantity as a WRs coach from his time with Pitt and Texas.
Hero Sports Senior FCS Analyst Sam Herder broke down whether the influx of talent would be a positive change or not for the Hornets.
I count 37 D1 transfers heading to Sac State so far this offseason (29 FBS, 8 FCS). A ton of talent for the new staff, now the challenge is getting them to gel on the field and off the field. It can be a mixed bag ⬇️
Last year, 32 FCS teams brought in more than 15 D1 transfers…
— Sam Herder (@SamHerderFCS) April 23, 2025
We’ve seen what Deion Sanders could do by harnessing the transfer portal with Jackson State and then Colorado. From what it looks like, Marion is using the same playbook in Northern California, and he could find similar success.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
