Texas State Set to Join Pac-12 Amid Realignment

Texas State University is poised to join the Pac-12 Conference, with a formal invitation expected soon as the Pac-12 seeks to rebuild after major membership losses. Texas State must notify the Sun Belt Conference by July 1 to avoid doubling its exit fee from $5 million to $10 million. This move is critical for the Pac-12 to maintain its NCAA status following the departures of USC, Oregon, and UCLA, and would make Texas State the ninth Texas FBS program to change conferences since 2021. The Sun Belt is considering Louisiana Tech as a replacement for Texas State, which would intensify in-state rivalries within Louisiana. Notre Dame, meanwhile, remains committed to football independence, with head coach Marcus Freeman citing historical and financial advantages. These developments highlight the centrality of Texas in ongoing college football realignment as conferences compete for market share and competitive strength.