With Texas State on board, Pac-12 ready for 2026 rebirth

Texas State is officially a member of the Pac-12, which will relaunch in 2026.
The conference now has nine member teams after it was left with just two — Washington State and Oregon State — when the other schools abandoned the league in 2024 in a massive realignment.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,” commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement. “It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today’s landscape with student-athletes in mind.”
Texas State joins Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as members of the rebuilt league.
The Pac-12 needed eight football-playing schools to regain its status as a conference. Gonzaga, a basketball power, does not have a football program.
The move became official after the board of regents at Texas State gave the OK to a $5 million buyout payment to the Sun Belt Conference, and the Pac-12 board of directors unanimously voted to approve the school’s application. The Bobcats will play in the Sun Belt in the 2025-26 season.
“Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move — it is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,” Texas State president Kelly Damphousse said.
The Pac-12 also has started to rebuild its media partnerships. Last week, it announced a five-year agreement with CBS to air select conference football and basketball games, with more partners still expected to come on board.