Alonzo Carter gets first win as Sacramento State rolls

01 · The NewsCarter Gets His First Win

Sacramento State answered its opening loss with a 52-0 win over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday, Sept. 5, giving Alonzo Carter his first victory as head coach and the Hornets their first win as an FBS program one week after falling at Eastern Michigan.

Jackson Sharman threw four touchdown passes, three to Matt Coleman, as Sacramento State built a 31-0 halftime lead. Sharman completed 18 of 28 passes for 247 yards, while Coleman caught six passes for 141 yards and posted the first multi-touchdown game of his career. Two of Coleman’s scores covered 19 and 63 yards.

Sacramento State paired its passing production with 203 rushing yards. Mississippi Valley State, which fell to 0-2, managed 147 total yards and only 43 passing yards. The balance kept the Delta Devils from finding an answer as the Hornets scored in all four quarters.

Jaylen Patterson provided an immediate jolt in the fourth quarter, breaking a 43-yard touchdown run on his first play as a Hornet. Daniel Swinney added a 3-yard touchdown and finished with 58 rushing yards.

Sharman also connected with Jace Wilson for a 24-yard touchdown with 28 seconds left in the second quarter. It was Wilson’s first collegiate touchdown and helped send Sacramento State into halftime with a 31-point lead.

The result marked a sharp turn from the Carter era’s opening game, a 28-17 loss at Eastern Michigan on Aug. 29. Sacramento State finished 7-5 overall and 5-3 in conference play in 2025 before beginning its first FBS season. Now the Hornets are 1-1, with Fresno State offering the first chance to see how much of Saturday’s production travels.

For Carter, the first marker is secure: Sacramento State overwhelmed Mississippi Valley State from the start and did not allow a point.

02 · The StakesThe Test Ahead

The win moved Sacramento State to 1-1 overall. Carter’s team travels to Fresno State on Saturday, Sept. 12, for a tougher test of whether the response can carry against a stronger opponent after the program’s first FBS victory.

03 · The Watch ListWhat We're Watching