Texas State informs Sun Belt of plans to leave for Pac-12

The NCAA landscape is shifting once again, and Texas State football is at the center of the latest NCAA football conference realignment. According to multiple reports, including ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Bobcats have officially informed the Sun Belt Conference of its intent to join the Pac-12 Conference, with plans to finalize the move by Monday.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the news on X, formerly known as Twitter, detailing where things stand in the process.

“Sources: Texas State is amid the final steps of accepting an invitation to the Pac-12, as it has initiated the process of calling a board meeting for Monday to execute the acceptance. Texas State began alerting Sun Belt officials of its formal offer and plans to accept.”

This move, part of a broader NCAA conference shakeup, would take effect in the 2026–27 academic year, marking the Bobcats’ third conference since transitioning to the FBS level in 2012. It also solidifies Pac-12 expansion plans, as the conference rebuilds after a series of high-profile exits in recent years.

For the Pac-12, the addition of Texas State offers critical benefits. The Bobcats would be the eighth football-playing member, allowing the league to maintain its FBS status. Just as importantly, the move plants the Pac-12 flag in the football-rich state of Texas—a strategic expansion for recruiting and media reach.

Article Continues Below

From Texas State’s perspective, the timing is crucial. Their exit fee from the Sun Belt Conference is set to double from $5 million to $10 million after July 1st, making the decision to accept the Pac-12’s invitation before that deadline financially essential. A special Board of Regents meeting has been scheduled for Monday to formalize the transition.

Athletically, the Bobcats are trending upward. Under head coach G.J. Kinne, they’ve posted…

Source link : https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-sports/texas-state-football-news-pac-12-sun-belt-move-2026

Author :

Publish date : 2025-06-27 06:25:00

Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.