CBS Sports Piece: Why up & coming Texas State makes sense as final piece for a rebuilding Pac

[Cajunrunner]

Barely 15 years ago, Texas State was playing football in the Southland Conference. Now, the Bobcats have quickly become the belle of the ball in FBS realignment.

Texas State has emerged as the "heavy favorite" to be given a formal invitation to join the Pac-12, according to an ESPN repprt. Texas State is facing a July 1 deadline to notify the Sun Belt if it wishes to leave for the 2026 season or its buyout will double from $5 million to $10 million.

Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State are set to join Oregon State and Washington State as full members. Basketball powerhouse Gonzaga is also joining as a non-football member. The league needs one more all-sport member to join in time for the 2026-27 school year to be eligible to exist as a full NCAA conference.

Texas State was a power at the Division II level before moving up to I-AA in the 1980s, winning a pair of national titles under legendary coach Jim Wacker. Dennis Franchione helped transition the Bobcats to the FBS level in 2012, and the program landed in a resurgent Sun Belt one year later. Until Kinne arrived in 2023, though, the program posted eight straight losing seasons and zero bowl appearances. In two years, Kinne has notched 16 wins and consecutive First Responder Bowl victories in the past two years.

The relationship between Texas and football goes without saying, and makes even the middle and lower class of FBS teams intriguing investments. The AAC was attracted by access to major markets when they added North Texas, Rice and UTSA. Recruiting inroads are also critical, and Texas is the greatest producer of football talent in the world.

But perhaps most important, Texas is one of the greatest growth markets in the country. Texas is adding more population than any state in the union, with much of it settling around Austin. That makes Texas State a major potential upside play as it continues to build its brand on the regional and national level.

President Kelly Damphousse and athletic director Don Coryell have been a shot in the arm for the athletic department, and G.J. Kinne has become the face as head football coach. However, Texas State needs resources to continue upgrading, especially if asked to play against Pac-12 competition. A partial share won't get it done.

Additionally, the Texas State University system is one of the four major groupings in Texas. The other three are the University of Texas system, Texas A&M system and Texas Tech system. Look at how the flagships of those three institutions are investing -- Texas State wants to increase its brand through football too.

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ng-pac-12/amp/

Damn…

[MarlinMan3]

Texas schools will be sea to shining sea....

[CajunT]

https://www.cbssports.com/college-fo...ng-pac-12/amp/

Damn…

"However, Texas State needs resources to continue upgrading, especially if asked to play against Pac-12 competition. A partial share won't get it done."

Something tells me that don't have anything in writing.

[cajun4life]

it’s absolutely a smart move to make the jump. If you have the administrations commitment, which we do not have.

I wish we did, but we do not. If we would make the jump our name would be plastered everywhere. We’d be the only Louisiana school and it would further help our branding.

The negatives would be travel and a western based league.

[CajunT]

it’s absolutely a smart move to make the jump. If you have the administrations commitment, which we do not have.

I wish we did, but we do not. If we would make the jump our name would be plastered everywhere. We’d be the only Louisiana school and it would further help our branding.

The negatives would be travel and a western based league.

Where's the money coming from and do we get equal revenue share, or do we have to wait 4 to 5 years?

[ZoomZoom]

Where's the money coming from and do we get equal revenue share, or do we have to wait 4 to 5 years?

Partial revenue share based on the promise of tomorrow is absolute fool’s gold.

The networks are not stupid, the A2 will demand more money once they finish with the ACC and Big 12.

Where will the money come from? The new MWC (PAC) and the depleted ACC and Big 12 c

[Cajunrunner]

"However, Texas State needs resources to continue upgrading, especially if asked to play against Pac-12 competition. A partial share won't get it done."

Something tells me that don't have anything in writing.

Possibly not.

But the thing is they are getting talked about. It’s good publicity. Free publicity.

We NEVER get talked about like this for “moving up”, except amongst ourselves.

[cajun4life]

Where's the money coming from and do we get equal revenue share, or do we have to wait 4 to 5 years?

You absolutely refuse partial revenue share. It’s either full share or kick rocks.

But it’s a better situation tee are in now. If it doesn’t work, guess what, we are still left out in the cold.

[CajunNation]

Where's the money coming from and do we get equal revenue share, or do we have to wait 4 to 5 years?

Absolutely demand full share upon admission. That's the only way this works.