Episode Details

The "Pac-2" is officially expanding, and Texas State University is indeed on the verge of joining the new-look Pac-12 Conference, with an announcement potentially imminent! This move marks a significant step in the conference's efforts to rebuild after the mass exodus of its traditional members.

Here's what's happening:

The Need for Eight Football Teams: After losing ten of its twelve members, the Pac-12 was left with just Oregon State and Washington State. To maintain FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision) status and be eligible for the College Football Playoff, a conference needs at least eight football-playing members. The Pac-12 had already added Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State from the Mountain West, plus Gonzaga (a non-football member), bringing their total to eight, but only seven football programs. Texas State is expected to be that crucial eighth football-playing institution.

Financial Motivation: The timing is critical. Texas State's exit fee for leaving the Sun Belt Conference doubles from $5 million to $10 million on July 1st. This provides strong motivation for both sides to finalize a deal quickly. For Texas State, the move is a massive financial upgrade; they currently receive around $2 million annually from the Sun Belt's media rights, but the new Pac-12 media deal with CBS Sports is expected to pay schools at least $7 million per year, potentially tripling their revenue.

Strategic Footprint: Adding Texas State gives the Pac-12 a valuable presence in the state of Texas, a hotbed for recruiting in both football and basketball. San Marcos, where Texas State is located, sits between major cities like Austin and San Antonio, offering a significant and passionate alumni base. The university is seen by some as a "sleeping giant" with strong resources.

Program Resurgence: Under head coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State football has seen a significant turnaround, achieving back-to-back eight-win seasons and their first consecutive winning seasons since 2008-09. This on-field success makes them a more attractive addition.

New Pac-12 Structure: Texas State would join Oregon State and Washington State, along with the Mountain West transplants (Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State) and Gonzaga, forming a nine-member conference with eight football-playing schools for the 2026-27 season. The conference recently secured an extended media rights agreement with CBS Sports as its "anchor" partner through the 2030-31 season.

While the "new" Pac-12 will look vastly different from its storied past, the addition of Texas State is a strategic move to secure its FBS status, enhance its media rights, and plant a flag in a vital recruiting territory, as the conference attempts to carve out a new identity in the ever-shifting landscape of college athletics.

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