Pac-12 Explores Membership Talks with Texas State Amid Extended CBS Sports Media Deal: Insider Insights

The Pac-12 is evolving, and it just secured its main media partner. CBS Sports will be the lead broadcaster through the 2030-31 season. This deal is crucial as the conference looks to grow and bring in new member schools.

Right now, talks are underway with Texas State about joining the Pac-12 by the fall of 2026. Until now, the Pac-12 has only had Washington State and Oregon State. Adding Texas State, currently in the Sun Belt, would mark a vital step in rebuilding the conference. This expansion is a response to the challenges the Pac-12 has faced and would bring its membership up to eight football-playing teams, which is necessary for NCAA compliance.

In recent years, we’ve seen a wave of conference realignments. Texas State’s potential move could trigger shifts among other Group of Six conferences. The Sun Belt is already discussing how to respond, eyeing schools like Louisiana Tech and Western Kentucky for potential additions.

Timing is important in these matters. For example, Texas State must notify the Sun Belt by July 1 to avoid hefty exit fees, which could reach $5 million. If it accepts an invitation to the Pac-12, it would significantly boost its revenue, more than doubling what it currently receives from the Sun Belt. This is crucial as schools are navigating the new landscape of athlete revenue sharing.

Historically, Texas State has a solid athletic legacy, including past national championships at lower levels. If they join the Pac-12, they’d also bring the league a presence in Texas, which has the second-largest population in the country.

However, adding Texas State is just one piece of the puzzle. Last year, the Pac-12 approached schools like Memphis and Tulane about membership, but those schools declined, facing penalties up to $20 million for leaving their current conferences. Moreover, the Pac-12 is in a complicated legal situation with the Mountain West, as both conferences are negotiating over substantial exit fees related to recent moves.

Under new leadership, the Pac-12 is also navigating the complex world of college athletics, where financial shifts are taking place due to revenue-sharing agreements. This week, conference leaders will be meeting with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., as discussions about federal regulations in college sports continue.

The extension of the CBS deal also includes plans for broadcasting the league’s football championship, men’s basketball championship, and several regular-season games. The Pac-12 is also working with Octagon, a consultancy, to explore additional media agreements.

These changing dynamics show that college sports are evolving, and the Pac-12 is trying to find its place in this new landscape. As the conversation around athlete compensation and conference realignment continues, the decisions made now could have lasting impacts.

For more on college sports regulations, check out the NCAA’s official page here.

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