“Texas State is thrilled to enter a new era in college athletics as the newest member of the new Pac-12 Conference,” Texas State Director of Athletics Don Coryell said in a news release. “This milestone offers an incredible opportunity to elevate our programs, compete at the highest level, and pursue excellence on a national stage.”

For the Pac-12, Texas State gains more scheduling flexibility since it plays in the Central Time Zone, while also expanding its footprint beyond the West Coast.

The program, which began play in 1904 but only elevated to college football's top division in 2012, has posted back-to-back 8–5 seasons and bowl wins under coach G.J. Kinne. The school's San Marcos campus is less than an hour from two sizable markets—Austin and San Antonio—and it boasts an impressive enrollment of over 40,000 students.