CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2023 Sacramento State

8–⁠5 (4–⁠4 Big Sky).

Schedule and results

Sacramento State in 2023, game by game: won at Nicholls 38–24; won vs. East Texas A&M 34–6; won at Stanford 30–23; lost at Idaho 27–36; won vs. Northern Arizona 31–30; won at Northern Colorado 21–13; lost vs. Montana State 30–42; won vs. Idaho State 51–16; lost at Montana 7–34; won vs. Cal Poly 41–30; lost at UC Davis 21–31; won at North Dakota 42–35; lost at South Dakota 24–34+35−27Won 38–24 at Nicholls+14NichollsWon 34–6 vs. East Texas A&M+28East Texas A&MWon 30–23 at Stanford+7StanfordLost 27–36 at Idaho-9IdahoWon 31–30 vs. Northern Arizona+1Northern ArizonaWon 21–13 at Northern Colorado+8Northern Colora…Lost 30–42 vs. Montana State-12Montana StateWon 51–16 vs. Idaho State+35Idaho StateLost 7–34 at Montana-27MontanaWon 41–30 vs. Cal Poly+11Cal PolyLost 21–31 at UC Davis-10UC DavisWon 42–35 at North Dakota+7North DakotaLost 24–34 at South Dakota-10South Dakota
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Sep 2atNichollsW 38–⁠2475%
Sep 9vsEast Texas A&MW 34–⁠687%
Sep 16atStanfordW 30–⁠2355%
Sep 23atIdahoL 27–⁠3660%
Sep 30vsNorthern ArizonaW 31–⁠3085%
Oct 14atNorthern ColoradoW 21–⁠1386%
Oct 21vsMontana StateL 30–⁠4251%
Oct 28vsIdaho StateW 51–⁠1686%
Nov 4atMontanaL 7–⁠3446%
Nov 11vsCal PolyW 41–⁠3088%
Nov 18atUC DavisL 21–⁠3154%
Nov 25Bowls & playoffatNorth DakotaFCS Championship – First RoundW 42–⁠3547%
Dec 2Bowls & playoffatSouth DakotaFCS Championship – Second RoundL 24–⁠3446%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to South Dakota 34–⁠24 in the FCS Championship – Second Round; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 6th in the Big Sky.

In program history: The 3rd-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 37 on file).

Record
8–⁠5
Conference
4–⁠4 tied for 6th in Big Sky
AP final
Unranked
Points
397–⁠354
Coach
—
Elo
1428 −51 this season
SP+ rating
—
SRS
−14.7 No. 18 of 128 in FCS
Recruiting class
No. 142
Offensive coordinator
Bobby Fresques
Offense
West Coast
Defense
4–⁠2–⁠5

Leaders

Passing yardsKaiden Bennett QB2,059 yds
Passing touchdownsKaiden Bennett QB14 TD
Rushing yardsMarcus Fulcher RB592 yds
Rushing touchdownsMarcus Fulcher RB8 TD
Receiving yardsCarlos Hill WR658 yds
Receiving touchdownsCarlos Hill WR4 TD
TacklesArmon Bailey LB11 tkl
SacksJett Stanley DL3 sacks
InterceptionsKylen Ross S3 INT

Top recruits in the 2023 class

Carson Conklin QB★★★No. 1772
Onterrio Smith Jr. ATH★★★No. 1837
Richard McKay OT★★★No. 1953
Curron Borders RB★★★No. 2179
Danny Scudero WR★★★No. 2179

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2023 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Quarterbacks13.00.838
Running backs13.00.820
Receivers22.50.775
Offensive line33.00.817
Defensive line13.00.820
Linebackers13.00.820
Defensive backs12.00.780
Athletes and specialists13.00.835
Whole class112.80.810

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Transfers in 1

The 2023 portal
Anderson Grover WR★★from Washington State

Transfers out 5

Cam Skattebo RB★★★to Arizona State
Ayodele Adeoye LB★★★★no new school on file
Cameron Broussard S★★★returned to Sacramento State
Billy Lutui DL★★to Portland State
Jared Gipson WR★★returned to Sacramento State

2023 Big Sky standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
Montana7–⁠113–⁠2
Idaho6–⁠29–⁠4
Montana State6–⁠28–⁠4
UC Davis5–⁠37–⁠4
Northern Arizona5–⁠35–⁠6
Sacramento State4–⁠48–⁠5
Weber State4–⁠46–⁠5
Portland State4–⁠45–⁠6
Eastern Washington3–⁠54–⁠7
Idaho State3–⁠53–⁠8
Cal Poly1–⁠73–⁠8
Northern Colorado0–⁠80–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.