Reports: Sac State coach taking OC job with Buffs

After one season at the helm, Sacramento State football coach Brennan Marion is leaving the program to become the offensive coordinator at Colorado according to several media reports.

ESPN published a story that noted that Marion’s departure was first reported by CBS Sports; a source told ESPN’s Pete Thamel that Marion informed the players Thursday morning. 

It was an eventful season in Sacramento, where the Hornets finished 7-5 with a loss to UC Davis in the Causeway Classic. They won four more games than in 2024 but missed the playoffs in what school president Dr. Luke Wood said would be their final year in the FCS. 

Along the way Marion was fined by the Big Sky Conference for criticizing league officiating.  

Marion was the offensive coordinator at UNLV for two seasons before Sacramento State officially hired him on Jan. 8. Now the architect of the “Go-Go- Offense” will be CU coach Deion Sanders’ third OC in four years. Colorado, 9-4 last season, finished 3-9 this fall. 

The Sacramento Bee newspaper reported that neither Sac State athletic director Mark Orr nor Wood have publicly commented on Marion’s exit. Wood has been behind the push to move up into the Bowl Subdivision; in June Sac State’s request for a waiver to move up to the FBS as an independent was denied by the NCAA. 

Wednesday was early signing day for NCAA football and Sacramento State signed 11, including Glacier quarterback Jackson Presley.