Sacramento State football head coach Brennan Marion has been fined $10,000 by the Big Sky Conference for violating the conference’s Sportsmanship Policy.
In a statement released on Wednesday afternoon, Big Sky Commissioner Tom Wistrcill stressed the importance of professionalism and not publicly questioning the integrity of officials.
Big Sky Issues Reprimand and Fine of Sacramento State Football Coach Brennan Marion pic.twitter.com/SI9PuFmO7O
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) October 29, 2025
Marion was reprimanded and fined after comments made to CBS Sacramento, where he suggested that officials were punishing the team for off-the-field commentary from Marion and from Sac State President Luke Wood.
“People are upset about the comments made… and people obviously want to make us pay for those comments” @SacHornetsFB leads the @BigSkyConf in penalties by a wide margin: 72 flags for 573 yards and 8 touchdowns called back this season.
Head coach @BrennanMarion4 believes the… pic.twitter.com/Wrl9KJcYV9
— Jake Gadon (@JakeGadon_TV) October 29, 2025
Prior to last week’s loss to Montana, Wood made multiple viral comments, stirring up a back-and-forth between himself and Montana’s head coach Bobby Hauck. These comments included jabs at Montana’s schedule, fanbase and mascot. Wood called the Grizzlies the “Pandas,” resulting in last Friday’s game being labeled as the “Panda Bowl.”
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Sac State is the most penalized team in the Big Sky Conference and is among one of the most penalized in the nation.
Sac State athletic director Mark Orr provided the following statement to the State Hornet:
“Sacramento State Athletics values and expects our coaches and student-athletes to respect the Big Sky Sportsmanship Policy. We accept the decision that has been made and look forward to focusing our attention on the final four games of the regular season.”
