Colorado State University Athletics
Pac-12 Conference welcomes the addition of Texas State University
6/30/2025 11:00:00 AM | General
The new Pac-12 further cements its foundation with the Bobcats bringing its total membership to nine committed members and driven universities and athletics departments, set to begin play in 2026-27
The Pac-12 Conference and Texas State University today announced the Bobcats will join the league for its next era as a foundational member of the new Pac-12 beginning with the 2026-27 season. Texas State joins Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as nine foundational members of the new Pac-12, with the league's official launch set for July 1, 2026. The Bobcats will join as a full member of the new Pac-12, participating in all conference sports.Â
With the addition of Texas State, the new Pac-12 will have eight football-playing, all-sports members to meet the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) requirements and nine total full members across all other conference sports, including men's and women's basketball.Â
After receiving a formal application, the Pac-12 Board of Directors, including all eight current and future members of the new Pac-12, voted unanimously to admit Texas State to the conference effective July 1, 2026.Â
"We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12," said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. "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. Under great leadership from Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Don Coryell and excellent head coaches, Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically, and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats' future trajectory continue to shine big and bright."
Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said: "This is a historic moment for TXST and Bobcat Athletics. 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. Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a TXST degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution."
Texas State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Don Coryell added: "Texas State is thrilled to enter a new era in college athletics as the newest member of the new Pac-12 Conference. This milestone offers an incredible opportunity to elevate our programs, compete at the highest level, and pursue excellence on a national stage. This historic moment belongs to our coaches, staff, student-athletes, fans, alumni and students, who we thank for making it possible. As the Pac-12's flagship school in Texas, we proudly embrace the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it. We are grateful to Commissioner Teresa Gould, the Pac-12 leadership, and extend sincere thanks to the Sun Belt Conference for 12 years of partnership and growth. We look forward to tackling new challenges and reaching new heights as a foundational member of the new Pac-12."
New Pac-12: Looking Ahead
Now with the addition of Texas State, and though the new Pac-12 will not officially begin until the 2026-27 season, the past few seasons have offered a glimpse into the on-going and overall strength of the new league and highlights including:
Top Five League in Football
Over the last four seasons considering and comparing to future conference compositions (as of June 2025), beginning with the 2026 season, the new Pac-12 has had:
Over the last five seasons considering and comparing to future conference compositions (as of June 2025), beginning with the 2026-27 season, the new Pac-12 has had:
Oregon State and Washington State are currently operating as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of a NCAA two-year grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025-26 academic season prior to new members officially joining beginning with the 2026-27 season. All current and incoming members will continue to collaboratively chart future business matters and conference considerations for the new Pac-12.
Colorado State Entering the Pac-12
Colorado State prepares to enter the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026 following an excellent 2024-25 season.
CSU was just one of 14 programs in the nation to participate in the women's volleyball and men's basketball NCAA Tournament, along with qualifying for a bowl game. The Rams were the only group of five school to achieve this feat.
The department performed well both in competition and in the classroom. CSU won five conference titles, made three postseason appearances and had nine All-Americans, including NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Shot Put National Champion Mya Lesnar. In the classroom, Colorado State student-athletes outperformed the general population for the 11th consecutive semester and carried a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for the 23rd straight semester.
CSU announced its historic move to the Pac-12 on September 12, 2024 joining current members Washington State and Oregon State and incoming members Boise State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State. The move bolstered Colorado State, which was already one of the preeminent academic institutions as a Tier 1 research campus and land grant university of the state.
Path to the Pac
Colorado State is on the Path to the Pac-12 Conference come July 1, 2026. Join the Rams on the Path to the Pac today!
With the addition of Texas State, the new Pac-12 will have eight football-playing, all-sports members to meet the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) requirements and nine total full members across all other conference sports, including men's and women's basketball.Â
After receiving a formal application, the Pac-12 Board of Directors, including all eight current and future members of the new Pac-12, voted unanimously to admit Texas State to the conference effective July 1, 2026.Â
"We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12," said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould. "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. Under great leadership from Dr. Kelly Damphousse, Don Coryell and excellent head coaches, Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically, and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats' future trajectory continue to shine big and bright."
Texas State University President Kelly Damphousse said: "This is a historic moment for TXST and Bobcat Athletics. 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. Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a TXST degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution."
Texas State Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics Don Coryell added: "Texas State is thrilled to enter a new era in college athletics as the newest member of the new Pac-12 Conference. This milestone offers an incredible opportunity to elevate our programs, compete at the highest level, and pursue excellence on a national stage. This historic moment belongs to our coaches, staff, student-athletes, fans, alumni and students, who we thank for making it possible. As the Pac-12's flagship school in Texas, we proudly embrace the opportunity and responsibility that comes with it. We are grateful to Commissioner Teresa Gould, the Pac-12 leadership, and extend sincere thanks to the Sun Belt Conference for 12 years of partnership and growth. We look forward to tackling new challenges and reaching new heights as a foundational member of the new Pac-12."
New Pac-12: Looking Ahead
Now with the addition of Texas State, and though the new Pac-12 will not officially begin until the 2026-27 season, the past few seasons have offered a glimpse into the on-going and overall strength of the new league and highlights including:
Top Five League in Football
Over the last four seasons considering and comparing to future conference compositions (as of June 2025), beginning with the 2026 season, the new Pac-12 has had:
- Five of its eight football programs ranked among the College Football Playoff's (CFP) Top 25, or 62.5% of its programs, the fourth-highest total percentage of programs ranked in the CFP Top 25 among all conferences in that time.Â
- Six of its eight football programs ranked among the Associated Press' (AP) Top 25, or 75% of its programs, the fifth-highest total percentage of programs ranked in the AP Top 25 among all active conferences in that time.Â
- The fourth-best collective winning percentage (.547) of all conferences over that span.Â
- A collective average Football Power Index (FPI) ranking of 77th among 136 total FBS teams (as of the 2026 season), the fifth-highest average FPI ranking amount all leagues.Â
Over the last five seasons considering and comparing to future conference compositions (as of June 2025), beginning with the 2026-27 season, the new Pac-12 has had:
- The fifth-best average NET ranking among all conferences.Â
- Seven of its nine men's basketball programs make the Men's NCAA Tournament since 2021, including two appearances in the National Championship game.Â
Oregon State and Washington State are currently operating as members of the Pac-12 Conference as part of a NCAA two-year grace period and will continue to do so for the 2025-26 academic season prior to new members officially joining beginning with the 2026-27 season. All current and incoming members will continue to collaboratively chart future business matters and conference considerations for the new Pac-12.
Colorado State Entering the Pac-12
Colorado State prepares to enter the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026 following an excellent 2024-25 season.
CSU was just one of 14 programs in the nation to participate in the women's volleyball and men's basketball NCAA Tournament, along with qualifying for a bowl game. The Rams were the only group of five school to achieve this feat.
The department performed well both in competition and in the classroom. CSU won five conference titles, made three postseason appearances and had nine All-Americans, including NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Shot Put National Champion Mya Lesnar. In the classroom, Colorado State student-athletes outperformed the general population for the 11th consecutive semester and carried a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for the 23rd straight semester.
CSU announced its historic move to the Pac-12 on September 12, 2024 joining current members Washington State and Oregon State and incoming members Boise State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State. The move bolstered Colorado State, which was already one of the preeminent academic institutions as a Tier 1 research campus and land grant university of the state.
Path to the Pac
Colorado State is on the Path to the Pac-12 Conference come July 1, 2026. Join the Rams on the Path to the Pac today!
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