SAN MARCOS– Texas State is in an interesting position right now. The Pac 12 has made it clear they are seriously considering offering Texas State a spot in the conference as its ninth member. In order for the Pac 12 to be recognized as an FBS conference, it must have at least eight football playing schools.
With Gonzaga, which does not have a football team, already joining the conference, the addition of Texas State would give the Pac 12 the final program it needs. High profile figures like Pete Thamel, a College GameDay insider, and Brett McMurphy, a senior college football analyst, are fanning the flames on X.
Here is the catch: if Texas State chooses to accept the offer from the Pac 12, a five-million-dollar buyout would be owed to the Sun Belt Conference, the conference Texas State has been a part of since 2013. That buyout would double to ten million dollars if the school does not notify the Sun Belt of its departure by July 1.
Time is of the essence, and according to sources, the Pac 12 is expected to extend a formal offer to Texas State any day now. The conference realignment would go into effect starting with the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
Texas State previously held a verbal offer to join the Mountain West last fall but ultimately declined. Now, with the Pac 12 applying pressure, it would be difficult for Texas State to say no. The Bobcats have been the league’s top target for months.
But why Texas State?
University President Kelly Damphousse has reinvigorated the athletic programs by investing more money into them than previous administrations. His involvement with the athletic department bodes well with Pac 12 voters, especially as the league looks to establish a foothold in Texas, a state rich in resources, talent, and capital for collegiate sports.
While Texas State remains in the shadow of other major programs in the state such as Houston, TCU, Baylor, and Texas Tech in the Big 12, as well as Texas and Texas A&M in the SEC, a move to the Pac 12 would position the Bobcats to better compete both on the field and financially with their in state rivals. Texas State is expected to receive two million dollars from its media rights this year as part of the Sun Belt. That number would quadruple in the Pac 12. This ongoing courtship between Texas State and the Pac 12 has mutual benefits for both parties.
Similarly, Texas State has some geographic attributes that position it above the competition. Situated conveniently between San Antonio and Austin, the metro area that Texas State is located between consists of 5.3 million people, making it the 10th largest in the country. This gem of a school, in a region rich with talent and money, makes it a very attractive addition to members of the Pac 12.
This is an interesting tactic by the Pac 12, because currently the only large metro market the conference really boasts is San Diego. The only other cities that are somewhat appealing are cities like Boise and Fresno. Cities like Austin and San Antonio certainly offer a lot more in terms of TV markets. Additionally, Texas State boasts roughly 230K alumni, majority of them living in the state of Texas.
The current schools that make up the Pac 12 are Washington State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and Utah State. It seems only fitting for another state school to secure the final spot.
