Pac-12 Expands with Texas State as Eighth Member, Three Years since High-Profile Exits by USC and UCLA

Pac-12 Expands with Texas State as Eighth Member, Three Years since High-Profile Exits by USC and UCLA

Rebuilding the Pac-12: A Fresh Start with Texas State

After a massive exodus of longtime members, the Pac-12 conference is on the mend, planning to welcome Texas State University as its eighth football-playing member come July 2026. Following the departure of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten three years back on June 30, 2022, the Pac-12 has responded with a strategic reunion.

The Bobcats, currently nestled within the Sun Belt Conference, are all set to seal the deal on Monday according to various sources. Their addition to the Pac-12 will mark a significant step towards regaining the NCAA's minimum eight-team requirement for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) status and potential College Football Playoff contention.

Once the newest Texan joiners, the conference will comprise six additions from the Mountain West Conference (including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, San Diego State) and the private, non-football playing Gonzaga, aiming to make a mark in diverse sports.

Texas State has proven its growth potential, triumphing in back-to-back bowl victories in 2023 against Rice and 2024 against North Texas, making their 121-year history worth the anticipation. Their strategic location in the bustling Texas market, situated between Austin and San Antonio on I-35, adds value both geographically and market-wise to the Pac-12’s territory.

This new-look Pac-12 is setting its sights high, positioning itself for a competitive return to the college sports scene amidst the continuous conference realignment happening across the landscape[1][4][5].

Footnotes:

1. [source]: The Pac-12 struggles to stay afloat as members exit left, right, and center after USC and UCLA's move to the Big Ten.
2. [source]: ESPN: Pac-12 Invites Texas State to Join Conference in 2026.
3. [source]: Yahoo Sports: Texas State Accepts Pac-12 Invitation, Set to Join in 2026.
4. [source]: CBS Sports: The Pac-12's Long, Winding Recovery Following the Big Ten's Raids.
5. [source]: Associated Press: The Pac-12 in Turmoil: Navigating Conference Realignment in College Sports.
6. The Pac-12, aiming for a competitive return to the sports scene, is set to welcome Texas State University in 2026, a strategically located addition that boasts growth potential, having triumphed in two consecutive bowl games.
7. In response to the departure of USC and UCLA to the Big Ten, the Pac-12 has invited Texas State, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, to join their ranks, with sources suggesting the deal will be sealed on Monday.
8. With the addition of Texas State, the Pac-12 will regain the NCAA's minimum eight-team requirement for Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) status, paving the way for potential College Football Playoff contention.
9. Besides Texas State, the Pac-12 will also welcome six additions from the Mountain West Conference, including Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, San Diego State, and the private, non-football playing Gonzaga, aiming to make a mark in various sports.
10. Los Angeles-based teams such as the Dodgers and Lakers, as well as UCLA and USC, continue to dominate local sports scene, amidst the Pac-12's strategic reunion and the ongoing conference realignment in college sports.

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