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Texas State will officially join the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026.
After receiving a formal invite Friday, Texas State held a board of regents meeting Monday, when the move was approved. Texas State’s exit fee for leaving the Sun Belt Conference is $5 million, but it would have doubled to $10 million Tuesday.
The Bobcats are coming off back-to-back 8–5 seasons under coach G.J. Kinne—who was hired ahead of the 2023 season—that each ended with a victory in the First Responder Bowl.
Adding Texas State gives the Pac-12 the required eight football-playing members it needs to retain its FBS conference status in 2026. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and Gonzaga (no football program) were already set to join current Pac-12 members Oregon State and Washington State next year.
Last week, the Pac-12 sealed an extended media-rights deal with CBS Sports through the end of the 2030–31 season that will give CBS Sports and Paramount+ access to marquee football and basketball games, as part of a conference package that will ultimately include multiple network partners. Financial details of the CBS Sports deal are not available.
Texas State’s departure from the Sun Belt drops the conference to 13 full-time members, if it doesn’t add another school before next year. Louisiana Tech is reportedly in discussions to leave Conference USA and replace Texas State in the Sun Belt. That would give C-USA 10 full-time members in 2026.
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