Report: Texas State Gets Offer to Join Mountain West amid Pac-12 Realignment Rumors

Texas State officials have received a "verbal offer" to leave the Sun Belt conference and join the Mountain West, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Thamel noted that the newly-constructed Pac-12 has also expressed interest in adding the school, but the conference's desire to bring in Texas State "has yet to yield an offer."

The Mountain West conference currently has six full-time members and would need to add two more in order to continue meeting conference minimum requirements.

The current schools left in the conference include Air Force, Nevada, San Jose State, New Mexico, UNLV and Wyoming. Hawai'i is also in the league as a football member.

The Pac-12 has been able to add several members as the conference rebuilds, including former Mountain West programs such as San Diego State, Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and Fresno State. However, the conference still needs at least one more school in order to meet the eight required universities.

Texas State's discussions with the Mountain West "intensified" after UNLV and Air Force chose to remain with the conference, per Thamel. In order to leave the Sun Belt, the Bobcats will be required to pay a $5 million exit fee.

The program is coming off a promising 2023 season, finishing with the school's first winning record since 2014. Texas State earned eight wins and secured its first bowl victory as an FBS member, taking down Rice in the First Responder Bowl.

The Mountain West isn't solely focused on Texas State, as Action Network's Brett McMurphy reported on Thursday that the conference is interested in adding Northern Illinois and Toledo as football-only members in 2026.

Northern Illinois revealed that the school has yet to receive a formal offer from the conference on Friday, though (via ESPN).

If the Pac-12 doesn't submit an offer to Texas State, the Bobcats could become the next Mountain West school after Saturday's verbal offer.