The Pac-12 is nearing its return to a full-fledged FBS conference.
The league, which lost all but two teams after the 2023 season due to conference realignment, formally invited Texas State on June 27, according to a report from ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Bobcats are expected to accept the invite, which gives the Pac-12 the minimum eight teams needed to qualify as an FBS conference.
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Texas State is in the final steps of accepting an invitation to the Pac-12, per @espn sources. They have a formal offer and are expected to accept, with a board meeting called for Monday. https://t.co/TYed8ZAnTj
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) June 27, 2025
Texas State is the conference’s eighth member for football and ninth overall, as Gonzaga is joining the conference as a basketball-only member. Pac-12 leftovers Oregon State and Washington State — along with Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Texas State — make up the eight-team league for 2026, which is set to be the first year of the new league.
Thamel reported the invitation was extended prior to July 1 in order to avoid a doubled exit fee to leave the Sun Belt and join another conference for the 2026 season. It would jump from $5 million to $10 million on that date.
The Pac-12 recently secured a media rights deal with CBS, which will broadcast Pac-12 games through 2030-31. The FBS requires eight teams for its FBS conferences, and Texas State’s move to the Pac-12 satisfies that rule for the rebuilt league.
Here’s everything to know of Texas State’s move to be the latest new member of the rebuilt Pac-12:
When is Texas State leaving Sun Belt for Pac-12?
Texas State will play one more season in the Sun Belt before joining the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, along with the other six new programs for the conference.
Texas State will be a full member of the conference, unlike Gonzaga, which is joining the Pac-12 solely for non-football sports.
Texas State exit fee from Pac-12
Texas State’s exit fee from the Sun Belt is set at $5 million, according to multiple reports. Getting a deal done before July 1, 2025, is paramount, however, as the exit fee jumps to $10 million after the date for the school to join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.
Why is Pac-12 targeting Texas State?
Texas State provides the Pac-12 with the final football member needed to have a full-fledged FBS conference, as the NCAA requires each league to have at least eight football teams to be eligible for a conference-specific bowl game.
Texas State is a large university, with more than 40,000 students enrolled in 2024. The Bobcats also have a promising young football coach in G.J. Kinne, who led them to an 8-5 record in 2024 and 2023.
Texas State also appears to be an affordable addition, given its relatively low buyout total with the Sun Belt. The program also resides in a state that’s rich with football talent.
Memphis, Tulane, UTSA and South Florida were all at one points considered as options by the Pac-12, until the four American Athletic Conference programs committed to staying in their current league in September 2024.
How many teams are in the Pac-12?
There are eight teams in the Pac-12 for the 2026 football season, after Oregon State and Washington State were joined by new members Boise State, Utah State, Colorado State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Texas State.
There are nine members of the Pac-12 overall, however, as Gonzaga, a powerhouse in college basketball, is joining the league in 2026 for all sports the university sponsors (which does not include football).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas State to join Pac-12, giving conference 8 football members
