Looks like Texas State to PAC is imminent
Reports out today that they have given a heads up to their current conference that a PAC invite is expected. So nothing finalized just yet, but looks like it will happen within days/hours.
And the broader relevance is that this keeps the PAC playoff eligible as a FBS conference with enough teams.
And yes I will brag that I suggested Texas State as my top choice for the PAC back in September of last year.
** Edited by HokieAl at 6/26/2025, 11:58:55 AM
Link:
PAC expansion
51 Replies
Gonzaga decided to be non-affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and ...
will be renamed "Gonzaga State" so they can fit it with all the "PAC State" schools. ;)
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
1y
miss that for basketball and non revs, and as we all know, football is in a class by itself, and travel is almost irrelevent. It will help keep travel expenses down as Pullman is not an easy place to travel. I also wonder if they decide on a travel partner for Texas State in the future. There are a few candidates that are not in a power conference currently that would make the jump if asked.
If the B12 had gotten OSU and WSU, I'm almost certain they would have picked up Gonzaga (I think). Could still happen I suppose, depending on the moves made in 2030/31, but I see it a very unlikely at this point.
(In response to this post by Old Line Hokie)
H
HOO86
1y
They have the invite. So this deal looks done with the Board vote on Monday.
Link:
link
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
H
HOO86
1y
Reports out
Link:
Link
(In response to this post by HOO86)
S
Stech
1y
home game with Louisiana Tech. Especially if UVA has a home game at a different time. Of course thatâs a late flight to LA, but they get 3 hours back, and can sleep on the plane.
** Edited by Stech at 6/28/2025, 12:08:58 PM
(In response to this post by HOO86)
S
Stech
1y
I really donât get this move with the time of the games and increased travel. I am sure they will get more money, but itâs not gross revenue, itâs net income that counts.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
1y
a "better" conference than the Sun Belt. Do you truly believe that a school should not join a better conference if it has the opportunity to do so? Before you answer that question, you may want to think about VT's conference history and whether you supported the moves or not because it is no different for Texas State. Plus, if Texas State wants to have the opportunity in the future to possibly join the Big XII, which is perceived to be a "better" conference than the Pac-12, then it is unlikely they can do it remaining in the Sun Belt.
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
Better tv ratings and viewership
Better media money
Better brands (football and basketball)
Better name brand (even a watered down PAC is still better than a pure G5 conference)
I'd put the PAC as roughly equivalent to the American now. Top tier G6 above the SUN, MAC, MTW, CUSA
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
definition. For example, Conference USA was viewed for the longest time as being a better conference than the Sun Belt. Now it appears LA Tech is willing to leave that conference to rejoin the Sun Belt.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
the rise of the Sun Belt given the history of both conferences. C-USA may end up on the same path as the WAC, which decided to rebrand itself as the United Athletic Conference (UAC) on June 26, 2025.
(In response to this post by BROman Hokie)
S
Stech
1y
it wonât be on opinion, it will be how they are better on the following facts. Please provide these facts.
Money, how much will the PAC 2 plus the G5âs make versus the SBC?
What will be the travel expense cost for Texas State for all sports in the PAC 2 plus G5âs versus the SBC?
Assuming the two above there is a net gain for Texas State in PAC 2 plus G5âs, what is the net gain?
Broadcast time for Football Games, in the PAC 2 plus G5âs versus the SBC?
If many watchers on the East/Central time zones are asleep, how does that effect the viewership and recruiting athletes and non athletes when there are so many more Texas college football options at a better time?
*The only two PAC 12 schools that didnât get to join a Power 4 Conference, this Conference is mainly the PAC Conference by name only.
** Edited by Stech at 6/27/2025, 11:58:43 AM
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
name. So if you compare the conference names, then the Pac-12 name is perceived to be "better" than the Sun Belt name. Then when you look at the members of both conference, the schools in the new Pac-12 historically have been perceived to be "better" than the current members of the Sun Belt even when comparing them as a member of a prior conference. For example, JMU has never been viewed as being on par with Utah State regardless whether the Aggies were members of the Big West, WAC, or MWC because the Big West, WAC, and MWC have always been perceived to be a "better" conference than the CAA. Now that may or may not change going forward depending on if enough people redefine how the Pac-12 is viewed.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
out there. So letâs just leave it we have a different opinion on the matter.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
questions because they are still based on some form of opinion. Texas State believes the move is better for the school and that is all that really matters. You may disagree with their opinion, which is very likely based on research they did to help them reach this decision, and that is your choice. I gave you a probable explanation as to why this decision should not surprise anyone. Any time a school decides to change conferences, then the primary reason is it is because it is the best option for the school at the time.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
better conference than the Pac-12 for Texas State?
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
I am done.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
are just looking for someone else to do the work for you.
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
the possibility for the rose to fall off.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
S
Stech
1y
Everyone so far wants to give me their opinion without answering these factual questions. I am not interested in opinions without facts.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
at trave costs. It's a few hour flight further to Pullman than Norfolk, but it's almost irrelevent in todays conference alignments.
We don't know the full amount of the CBS deal, but it is estimated to be between $7M and $11M per school, with an announcement that there will be 2 or 3 secondary media deals. Even at the low estimate, it's a no brainer.
broadcast times for Texas State home games is the central time zone. You also have the mountain time zone in the conference. Quite a few options on time slots if you ask me.
Last I checked, the B12 doesn't have many teams in your time zone. let them sleep, as they have the opportunity to get as many viewers as Cal does.
It's not even close, and any SBC team would jump at the opportunity.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
What are the facts that support the opinion you clearly have?
As noted elsewhere, travel costs aren't likely that much different.
Time zones? Meh. So they might play a few games late...that's not impacting anything materially.
As for the money, my quick search says the media deal is probably not much different per school. However, things like bowl money and big dance money likely favor the P12. And the P12 likely has more potential in all areas. Those are just better schools. Texas St. likely would rather be a small fish in a bigger pond than just one of the many nondescript fish in a nondescript pond.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
not something I have passion over, but if they want to take the time to tell me why the PAC 2 plus the G5 schools is better I can be convinced. However, they just want to spout their opinion, so I am moving on.
(In response to this post by Pylons)
1y
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
Finger tips
Do tell, what is the difference in travel costs my friend. If you don't know, you have no business grandstanding about "facts"
(In response to this post by Stech)
R
RJHokie
1y
And built their schedules to accommodate such to the extent possible.
And I bet Texas State considered it to some extent. But they are closer to the West Coast and Mountain area than most of the ACC teams.
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
cost to help make the decision. However, Texas State has access to information that may or may not be available to anyone outside the organization without a FOIA request. If Texas State isn't willing to share that information for whatever reason, then any research on Texas State's travel cost would still be speculative at best.
(In response to this post by RJHokie)
1y
not sure it gets much worse than that. I think some forget just how big Texas is.
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)
1y
the train for away conference games from San Marcos. At least it is more likely Texas State was comparing charter flight costs in the Sun Belt vs. charter flight costs in the Pac-12. Even if Texas State did decide to bus to its closest conference opponents (I think UL-Lafayette or UL-Monroe), it would still require access to Texas State's charter contracts to know Texas State's travel cost in the Sun Belt.
** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 6/27/2025, 7:31:38 PM
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
R
RJHokie
1y
On I10 from the Texas/Louisiana border to El Paso I believe the distance sign says 845 milesâĻ..
(In response to this post by Big12 guy)
1y
outweigh any travel costs of staying in the sunbelt on exposure alone. They also will have a much better chance at a playoff spot as P12 > Sunbelt in terms of perception. Going undefeated in the Pac 12 will be evaluated higher than going undefeated in the Sunbelt 9 times out of 10.
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
that could change my mind.
(In response to this post by Sunsetunderground)
1y
Any average football fan who has an opinion about this has based it on speculation. But as others have pointed out, Texas State has obviously done an analysis of their options and has decided that joining the PAC is in their best interest. None of us know what information that decision was based on, but if their AD is worth even a small percentage of what they pay him, then he analyzed the financial data and reached the conclusion that changing conferences will be beneficial for his department as a whole. No one posting on TSL has enough information to offer a relevant opinion on this, including you.
Am I fond of the constant shakeups in conference affiliation? Absolutely not, and as a result, I've decided to personally boycott all college athletics. I simply don't watch ANY college sports anymore. But my dislike for the fluidity of conference affiliation has no bearing on the financial decisions individual universities are faced with regarding the conference they participate in. If an AD is presented with the opportunity to improve the financial standing of his university's athletic department, he would be derelict to not pursue it, in my opinion. It's a shame that everything boils down to dollars and cents, but that seems to be what makes the world go 'round.
In the words of Chris Rock: "I ain't sayin' [he] shoulda done it...but I understand."
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
at the FBS level. Texas schools have the money, and they tend to be large institutions. I will find it interesting on how their athletic programs progress with the elevated competition, but more importantly, the elevated expectations.
(In response to this post by HOO86)
I'm numb to conference realignment. Every conference has lost its identity
,,,including the Big "Ten" and "Southeastern" Conference. Zero continuity. Zero tradition. I'm going to venture to say that the casual college football fan doesn't know the mascot and the town location of Texas State.
RIP Pac-12, Conference of Champions.
** Edited by Maroon Baboon at 6/26/2025, 8:03:39 PM
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
S
Stech
1y
sharing is going to make them less of a Conference too. If 20 years ago, you said what can we do to eventually stop the mad interest in college football, you would do what has been done the last 5-10 years. The interest is dropping and itâs not just at the College level, itâs submarining at the High School level too. Which I believe is an indicator of the future. I know ESPN and others are counting on the sports gambling addiction, but I for one am not sure that is sustainable at a broad level. However, I guess we are going to find out.
(In response to this post by Maroon Baboon)
S
Stech
1y
in that market still.
(In response to this post by HokieAl)
S
Stech
1y
thatâs where Terry Bradshaw went to school. Thanks for the initial information.
(In response to this post by 1947Sunbowl)
S
Stech
1y
(In response to this post by Pylons)
E
EDGEMAN
1y
(In response to this post by Stech)
1y
schools making the transition to DI and will compete in DI-FCS for football. Here are the current choices for the Sun Belt.
United Athletic Conference (UAC)
Abilene Christian
Tarleton State
UT-Arlington (no football team and dropped the program in 1985 after only 3 seasons in DI-FCS)
SWAC
Prairie View A&M
Texas Southern
Southland
Houston Christian
Incarnate Word
East Texas A&M (transitioning DII school)
Lamar
Stephen F. Austin State
TAMU-Corpus Christi (no football)
UT-Rio Grande Valley (2025 will be the first season of sponsoring football)
Do any of those schools jump out at you as being likely candidates? Remember if a school wants to transition from DI-FCS to DI-FBS, then it will need to be able to satisfy ALL requirements including attendance requirements over a 4-year period.
** Edited by VTHokie2000 at 6/26/2025, 6:32:29 PM
(In response to this post by Stech)
S
Stech
1y
(In response to this post by VTHokie2000)