Texas State Joins Washington State, Pac-12 as Eighth Full-Time Member
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Texas State will join the rebuilt Pac-12 conference as a new rival for Washington State in 2026-27 in football and all other sports. Credit: Texas State Football/Instagram [/caption]
The Pac-12 has officially announced Texas State University as its eighth full-time and newest member, giving Washington State a new rival in football and other sports. The Bobcats will join the conference coming from the Sun Belt and are set to begin competition in the 2026–2027 season. Texas State’s Board of Regents approved the school’s $5 million dollar buyout fee to facilitate the conference change.
Texas State joined the FBS ranks in 2012, beginning in the WAC before moving to the Sun Belt Conference in 2013. Located in San Marcos, Texas - roughly 50 minutes from both Austin and San Antonio - Texas State is a large public university with an enrollment of just over 40,000 students, including approximately 36,000 undergraduates.
Football success at the FBS level has been limited for Texas State, with only three seasons finishing above .500 and two bowl appearances. However, both bowl games came in the last two years under head coach G.J. Kinne, who has brought recent success to the program. Over the past two seasons, the football program has won 16 games, showing major improvements on the gridiron that warranted pursuit to give the Pac-12 the minimum number of members to qualify for College Football Playoff consideration.
Washington State has never previously played Texas State in football, so when they face off in a couple of years, it will be the first time for each respective program.
The Bobcats have also made significant investments in athletics across the board, including a recent renovation of their football complex that should help with being able to compete for quality recruits.
In a statement released by the conference, Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said, “ 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.”
OFFICIAL: The new Pac-12 just got bigger. 😼#TXST x #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/C4j1mLErx8— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) June 30, 2025
In addition to football, Texas State has shown strong all-around athletic performance, winning the Vic Bubas Cup - awarded to the top overall athletic program in the Sun Belt - three of the past four years.
On the flip side, men’s basketball has been a struggle for the Bobcats. Since 1997, Texas State has only finished inside the top 100 of the KenPom rankings once, which happened in 2020. The program has two NCAA Tournament appearances in its history, with the most recent coming in the 1996–97 season. Last year, the Bobcats finished 16–16 and were ranked 194th nationally.
For now, it appears the Pac-12 is mostly done expanding. However, there are ongoing rumors that Saint Mary’s may join the conference as a basketball-only member and there may be interest in adding UNLV or UTSA as full members.
Officially part of the Pac-12, Texas State joins Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State as full members, while Gonzaga will be in the conference for every sport except football.
