WAIT, WHAT?! Texas State to the Pac-12? Report Says a Membership Offer is Coming SOON!

ESPN reports that the Sun Belt Conference has been notified by Texas State that it anticipates receiving an offer to join the Pac-12 soon. The timing of a possible transaction is crucial: On July 1, the $5 million exit price for Texas State to join the Pac-12 in 2026 doubled to $10 million.

If Texas State were to formally join the Pac-12, the revitalised league would have the eight football member schools needed by the NCAA to be considered an FBS conference. Due to a two-year grace period, Oregon State and Washington State are not currently part of the Pac-12. Beginning in 2026, the surviving Pac-12 was successful in luring Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Utah State from the Mountain West to join as full-time members. Although it doesn’t support a football team, Gonzaga is also joining.

One year after moving up to the Football Bowl Subdivision, Texas State, formerly a part of the Western Athletic Conference, began playing in the Sun Belt in 2013. Under young coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State is coming off its first two bowl victories in program history, despite never having won the Sun Belt. The Bobcats are having their first consecutive winning seasons since 2008–09 when Kinne led them to consecutive 8–5 finishes. Last season, Texas State also had its first Sun Belt victory (5-3) since 2014.