.png)
OFFICIAL: Texas State to Join PAC-12 in 2026...But Why is That Important? TSR Explains.
- Admin (Garrett Zatlin)
- Jul 1
- 3 min read
Last week, multiple outlets reported that Texas State will be leaving the Sun Belt Conference for the PAC-12. On Monday, that news became official as both Texas State and the PAC-12 announced that the Bobcats will be joining the revamped conference starting in the fall of 2026.
As part of the move, Texas State's Board of Regents approved a $5 million buyout to depart from the Sun Belt Conference. That approval came before July 1st of 2025, the date when the Bobcats' buyout from the Sun Belt would have doubled from $5 million to $10 million.
Early reports indicate that the Sun Belt will add either Louisiana Tech or Western Kentucky, current members of the Conference USA, as the newest members of their conference.
Texas State now joins Washington State, Oregon State, Gonzaga, Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State and Fresno State as members of the newly-revamped PAC-12 Conference.
* * *
The Bobcats are, admittedly, far from a major power as far as collegiate athletics are concerned. However, by joining the PAC-12, Texas State becomes the conference's eighth member to sponsor football. Eight is the minimum number of league members needed in order for a conference to be eligibile for postseason play in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
Yes, it is true that Texas State is actually the ninth member to join the PAC-12 since the conference began their membership rebuild two years ago. However, Gonzaga does not sponsor football and therefore does not help the PAC-12 reach it's minimum of eight football-playing members.
The PAC-12 had until July 1st of 2026 to find eight member schools that sponsor football. If they did not, they would no longer be recognized as an FBS conference. That would have been a beyond-massive blow for the PAC-12, a conference that just extended their media rights deal with CBS Sports through the 2030-2031 academic calendar year.
Failure to reach eight football-playing members would have jeopardized that same CBS Sports media deal and the long-term stability of the PAC-12 in general. And in an absolute worst-case, all-hell-breaks-loose scenario, the PAC-12 could have dissolved, entirely, meaning that their rebuild would have been all for naught.
* * *
When it comes to track and field, the Texas State men and women have been formidable members of the Sun Belt, and even on larger stages. The Bobcats won both their men's and women's outdoor track conference team titles this past spring. The women also won their indoor track conference team title this past winter.
Although, admittedly, Texas State is better known for their field specialists than they are their distance events.
This past spring, the Bobcat men sent two high jumpers, Kason O'Riley and Aiden Hayes, as well as long jumper and triple jumper, Chris Preddie, to the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. There, O'Riley and Hayes placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, to earn top-half All-American honors.
On the women's side, shot putter Melanie Duron and hammer thrower Lara Roberts also qualified for the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The latter name secured a bronze medal to end her spring season.
When it comes to cross country, the Bobcat men and women have produced shrug-inducing result at prior Sun Belt XC Championships. Last fall, the Texas State men and women both recorded 5th place team finishes.
