Texas State University is nearing a huge milestone in its athletic program as it enters the final stages of officially joining the Pac-12 Conference.
Sources have confirmed that Texas State has initiated the necessary steps to call a board of regents meeting for Monday, which will allow it to formally accept the Pac-12’s invitation. The move, which has been in the works for months, is expected to be finalized soon and will take effect for the 2026–27 academic year.
The transition will cover all sports — not just football, basketball, and baseball.
In preparation for the transition, Texas State officials have begun notifying Sun Belt Conference leaders of their intent to accept the Pac-12’s offer to join the conference. The official announcement is not expected until after the regents’ meeting on Monday, in line with Texas’ open meeting laws, which require 72 hours’ notice before such meetings can be held.
By calling the meeting on Friday, the university ensures it can act just in time to meet a key financial deadline tied to its exit from the Sun Belt.
This development marks the conclusion of the Pac-12’s courtship of Texas State, which had long been viewed as the frontrunner to become the league’s eighth football-playing member. The Pac-12 recently added Gonzaga as a ninth member, though the Zags do not participate in football.
The addition of Texas State will allow the conference to maintain its FBS status in 2026, which requires at least eight football-playing members.
The urgency to finalize the move stems from a financial clause: if Texas State waits until after July 1, its exit fee from the Sun Belt Conference would double from $5 million to $10 million. Board approval is required to authorize the payment, making the Monday meeting and formal acceptance essential before the end of June.
With the Bobcats’ arrival, the Pac-12 will include the following football-playing programs in 2026: Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State — and now Texas State.
This addition not only strengthens the league’s competitive lineup but also places the conference in the heart of Texas, a state known for its deep football roots and major recruiting advantages.
Texas State, with more than 40,000 students, is located between the major cities of Austin and San Antonio, giving the Pac-12 a new geographic footprint in a valuable media and recruiting market.
The Bobcats’ recent football success has also contributed to their appeal. Under head coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State has posted back-to-back 8–5 seasons and won two bowl games during that span.
They are slated to open the 2025-26 season against Eastern Michigan. Their inaugural Pac-12 game will be a marquee matchup against Texas in 2026.
This move underscores Texas State’s growing ambitions in collegiate athletics and signals a new chapter for the Pac-12 as it looks to rebuild and rebrand amid major changes across the collegiate landscape.
The Austin Sports Journal first reported that Texas State had begun the final administrative steps to join the Pac-12.