Texas State Realignment Becomes Official with Pac-12 Jump Approved

Texas State University’s Board of Regents has formally approved the $5 million exit fee to leave the Sun Belt Conference and join the Pac‑12 starting in the 2026‑27 academic year.

This decision clears the final hurdle ahead of the July 1 deadline that would have doubled the buyout cost to $10 million.

The move adds Texas State as the Pac‑12’s eighth football‑playing member and ninth school overall, restoring the conference’s Football Bowl Subdivision status.

They’ll join Fresno State, San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State, Oregon State, Washington State, and Gonzaga for non‑football sports. This realignment aims to rebuild the Pac‑12 after losing ten of its previous 12 schools in recent years.

Texas State’s recent success made it an attractive candidate. The program has secured back‑to‑back winning seasons, notably a bowl victory in 2023, and enrollment has surged to around 40,000 on its San Marcos campus. Their strategic location between Austin and Houston also strengthens recruiting and media appeal.

Thanks to the early move, the university avoids the penalty of a $10 million exit fee, which is key as the school plans to benefit from the Pac-12’s new media partnership with CBS, projected to yield significant revenue increases.

The move is a significant development for both sides, as the Pac‑12, left with only two football programs after mass departures, now regains its FBS status. For Texas State, the move offers a clear step up into a more prestigious conference, presenting greater exposure and resources.

With the purchase of the exit fee approved ahead of Monday’s meeting, Texas State is now poised to notify the Sun Belt and finalize its move officially. As the Bobcats prepare for their final season in the Sun Belt in 2025, anticipation is building for a new chapter in the Pac‑12’s evolving landscape.