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Pac-12 officially announces Texas State as new member of conference

IMG_6598by: Nick Kosko06/30/25nickkosko59
USATSI_25108269 (1)
Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

The Pac-12 officially announced Texas State as a new conference member Monday. The Bobcats will be a new member beginning with the 2026-27 season.

Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould released a statement regarding the move. Texas State executed the exit fee from the Sun Belt Monday and signed Pac-12 paperwork.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” 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 president Kelly Damphousse also released a statement regarding the school’s move. The new-look Pac-12 was once a power conference and could be considered one again now that it enters a new era.

Texas State officially added to Pac-12

“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.”

This comes after the Pac-12 was rocked by the prior round of conference realignment. That brought the conference down to just two teams ahead of the 2024 season, Washington State and Oregon State. Since then, they’ve been working to replenish their numbers.

The first conference the Pac-12 turned to poach from was the Mountain West. There, the conference was able to poach Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Utah State. That left the conference with seven teams. However, the conference is clearly looking to expand beyond that because in order to qualify as an FBS conference, they’ll need to be at a minimum of eight schools.