Fresno State Football could soon be taking regular trips to Texas.
According to multiple reports, Texas State will soon accept a formal invitation to join the Pac-12.
Driving the news: The revamped Pac-12 currently sits at seven members starting in 2026, including Fresno State, following a wave of conference realignment last year.
- But NCAA rules require conferences to have at least eight members, necessitating one more move for the Pac-12.
- Texas State has long been rumored as a target of the Pac-12 after other west coast teams reportedly declined invitations and decided to remain in the Mountain West. Texas State joined the top-flight of college football in 2012 and has only had three winning seasons, with two of them coming in the last two years.
The big picture: According to a report from ESPN, Texas State officials have alerted Sun Belt officials that it plans to leave the conference for the Pac-12.
- Texas State will join the conference in 2026, the same time when Fresno State and other Mountain West programs make the jump.
- Texas State will have to pay a $5 million exit fee to leave the Sun Belt. Per ESPN, that fee will double to $10 million on July 1, meaning the Bobcats will need to leave by Monday in order to pay the lesser price.
What we’re watching: The Texas State University System has scheduled a board meeting for Monday morning in order to approve the $5 million buyout to leave the Sun Belt and join the Pac-12.
