Months of rumors and speculation became reality on Monday as Texas State was officially accepted into the Pac-12 Conference by a unanimous vote as their ninth conference member and eighth football member, making the conference eligible for Football Bowl Subdivision.
The Texas State University System Board of Regents authorized Texas State to make a withdrawal fee payment up to $5 million from the Sun Belt Conference to join the Pac-12 Conference allowing the vote to take place.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said. “It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today’s landscape with student-athletes in mind. Under great leadership from Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Don Coryell and excellent head coaches, Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats’ future trajectory continue to shine big and bright.”
Texas State will play in the Sun Belt for the 2025-2026 season and will join the Pac-12 Conference on July 1, 2026.
Texas State President Kelly Damphousse spoke on how the move to the Pac-12 Conference will not only be a monumental move for the university but how it will raise the national profile of Texas State as a whole.
“This is a historic moment for TXST and Bobcat Athletics,” Damphousse said. “Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move—it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country. Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a TXST degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution.”
Director of Athletics Don Coryell is excited to join the new conference
“Texas State is thrilled to enter a new era in college athletics as the newest member of the Pac-12 Conference,” Coryell said. “This milestone offers an incredible opportunity to elevate our programs, compete at the highest level, and pursue excellence on a national stage. This historic moment belongs to our coaches, staff, student-athletes, fans, alumni, and students, who we thank for making it possible.
As the Pac-12’s flagship school in Texas, we proudly embrace the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it. We are grateful to Commissioner Teresa Gould, the Pac-12 leadership, and extend sincere thanks to the Sun Belt Conference for 12 years of partnership and growth. We look forward to tackling new challenges and reaching new heights as a foundational member of the new Pac-12.”
With the Pac-12 Conference losing 10 of their conference members to the Big Ten, Big Twelve and ACC conferences, leaving Oregona State and Washington State, speculation circled whether or not the long standing conference would continue on or seek a merger with the Mountain West Conference.
The answer came when the Pac-12 Conference added Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State from the Mountain West as new members along with basketball powerhouse Gonzaga from the West Coast Conference.
The conference attempted to add both Air Force and UNLV who opted to stay in the Mountain West. Another attempt to add new members came when the conference approached Memphis and Tulane from the American Athletic Conference but were turned down as well.
Texas State was approached by the Mountain West for potential conference membership of fall last year with the university ultimately signaling their commitment to the Sun Belt Conference.
Two weeks ago, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported that talks between Texas State and the Pac-12 began with the university becoming the front runner to become the Pac-12’s ninth overall member and eighth football playing member following months of speculation.
The move has been expected to be completed by July 1st with the exit fee for Texas State leaving the Sun Belt to jump from $5 million to $10 million.
Late Thursday night, the Austin Sports Journal’s Michael Adams reported that Texas State has received an invite from the Pac-12 to join the conference with the move needing approval from the Texas State University System Board of Regents which was set for Monday morning.
This will be Texas State’s third conference since making the jump to FBS in 2012. Texas State became a member of the WAC during the conference’s final season sponsoring FBS football. Texas State then moved into the Sun Belt Conference where they have been a member since 2013.
Despite their early struggles in the conference, Texas State became one of the strongest athletic departments in the conference, winning three Bubas Cups in four years which is awarded to the best athletics program in the conference based off of regular season finish.
However, Damphousse reiterated that Texas State isn’t just becoming a new member for the sake of it but rather going in and competing for conference championships.
“We are not joining the Pac-12 to simply participate,” Damphousse said. “We are joining to compete, contribute and win championships. The Pac-12 has a proud and storied tradition of excellence and TXST is honored to be a foundational member university helping to write the next chapter.”
