Sources: Texas State closing on move to Pac-12
Texas State remains in the final steps of accepting an invitation to the Pac-12, as it has initiated the procedure of calling a board of regents fulfilling for Monday to finish the move, sources verified to ESPN.Texas State
officials began signaling Sun Belt authorities of its official deal to the Pac-12 and prepares to accept, sources stated. The Pac-12 and Texas State are expected to finalize the procedure quickly, and the relocation will happen for the 2026-27 school year for all sports, according to sources. A statement of the relocation isn’t expected before Monday.It takes 72
hours to call a board of regents fulfilling in the Texas system, according to the state of Texas open meeting laws. By calling the meeting formally Friday, it allows Texas State to have the last conference Monday.This will mark the
last steps in the courtship of Texas State to the Pac-12. The Bobcats have loomed as the heavy favorite to sign up with the league for months as the eighth football-playing member. (Gonzaga is the league’s ninth member however doesn’t have football.)
Editor’s Picks
The move boiled down to the final days of a key pressure point for Texas State, as the school’s exit charge to sign up with the Pac-12 for 2026 doubles from $5 million to $10 million on July 1. With official board approval needed to pay the exit fee and prevent the boost, Texas State’s invite needed to come at some time this week.The Pac-12 required an eighth football member to run as an FBS conference in 2026. The Bobcats will sign up with Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State and Fresno State.Texas State’s addition hints at the school’s athletic potential and likewise gives the Pac-12 a niche in the football-rich state of Texas. The school has more than 40,000 trainees and is located in between Austin and San Antonio.The Bobcats are coming off back-to-back 8-5 football seasons, that included 2 bowl wins under head coach G.J. Kinne. Texas State opens the 2025 season against Eastern Michigan, and its very first game as a Pac-12 member will be at Texas in 2026. The Austin Sports Journal was first to report the news of Texas State starting the final actions for its move to the Pac-12.