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Texas State is joining the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, the school and league announced in a joint statement on Monday. The move gives the Pac-12 the eight required football-playing members needed to remain an FBS conference. The Bobcats will exit the Sun Belt after an impressive rise from the FCS ranks, which began with their move to the FBS in 2012.
Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement, “We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12.”
Texas State joins Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State as new members of the restructured Pac-12, which currently consists only of Oregon State and Washington State until next summer. Basketball powerhouse Gonzaga is also set to join as a non-football member.
After enduring eight consecutive losing seasons, Texas State hired head coach G.J. Kinne in 2023. Since his arrival, Kinne has led the Bobcats to 16 wins and back-to-back First Responder Bowl victories over the past two seasons.
With Texas’ departure to the SEC, nine of the 13 FBS teams in the state have changed conference affiliation. SMU left the American Athletic Conference for the ACC, and Sam Houston State transitioned from the FCS to Conference USA at the FBS level. As of now, seven of the nine FBS conferences include at least one team from Texas. Three of the four Power Four leagues also feature a Texas representative, now that the Mustangs are in the ACC.
It will be another year before it becomes official—but the Pac-12 is back, folks.
