Texas State is emerging because they have a ton of money with potential for way more, while being in a honey hole TV market
Being between LC and BR is not even CLOSE to Texas State's situation. Also San Marcos is projected to double in pop, and while Lafayette might be growing, it ain't growing THAT much
And none of this is to say that TX St is some great school... they're just lucky enough to have all the glitter and gold that the NCAA, ESPN, and larger conferences value the most