Texas State to Pac-12? What that and other rumors could mean for Colorado State | Opinion

Texas State to the Pac-12.If the rumor of that move being a likely next step was a surprise, you haven't been paying close attention.For quite a while it's looked like the most feasible and logical option for the Pac-12 to add its eighth football-playing member.

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Kyle Bonagura reported on June 15 that Texas State is the "heavy favorite" for the next Pac-12 invitation.Why? What does it mean both for the league and Colorado State? This is the most frequent topic of interest from fans in my texts and direct messages, so I thought I would just write some musings out.Pros and cons of Texas State to the Pac-12The reaction from many over the idea of Texas State has been lukewarm, but I think it's overdramatic to complain too much about.

It's a fine addition.

Doesn't set the world on fire in a good or bad way.Texas State is historically not great at Division I football, but the trend line is pointing up sharply with back-to-back 8-5 seasons (including bowl wins) and a well-regarded coach in G.J.

Kinne.Texas State has an enrollment of more than 40,000, is in a football recruiting hotbed and has begun to invest heavily.

CSU has a huge alumni base in Texas and every program recruits in the area, so it wouldn't be bad to have some presence there.The buyout for Texas State to leave the Sun Belt for the 2026-27 school year is a relatively small $5 million right now but jumps to $10 million on July 1.

That date is fast approaching.Texas State is a 40-minute drive from the Austin airport, so it's very accessible.

It's not hard to imagine big CSU crowds for road games at Texas State.The cons? It's not a "sexy" name to win the social media PR war.

The men's basketball program has been, as the kids say, mid.

Texas State ended last season No.

198 in NET rankings and has been around .500 each of the last three seasons.

Texas State did win 20 or more games three out of four seasons from 2018-21.

Maybe joining what will be an excellent Pac-12 in hoops will raise the level.The women's basketball team is similarly mediocre, with a 13-17 record last season.

Good news? The volleyball team made the 2024 NCAA Tournament.The Pac-12 needs another football-playing member (Texas State would be joining in all sports) and this would allow full steam ahead for the league for 2026.

If Texas State is the next addition, that's OK.Bottom line for the teams already lined up for the Pac? Win it (in any sport, but especially football) and you're in great shape.What about Memphis or UNLV?Since the moment the Pac-12 rebuild began, Memphis was a top name on the list.

Memphis was arguably the biggest name left to provide a jolt in football and men's basketball.The trick is a big buyout (exit fee prior to 27-month mark when this started was estimated around $25 million) and a reported $11 million made in the AAC last year (per ESPN).I've always been lukewarm on the idea of Memphis as a full member (I hate the idea of sending all sports cross-country for games with frequency) but it would be attractive for football and men's basketball.Maybe a football-only deal can be worked out down the road.UNLV? Maybe the Pac-12 should have just taken UNLV with the others leaving the Mountain West at the start.

Maybe not, though.

UNLV seems to think it is Big 12-bound in the future and seems to have some odd judgement on its standing in the college sports world.The thing I will say on this: The Pac-12 in 2026 isn't necessarily what the Pac-12 will be in 2030.

If Texas State is the next addition, it doesn't mean more strength can't be added later.Thoughts on the TV/media rights deal?Most national reporting has projected the Pac-12 media rights deal to be anywhere from $8 million to $12 million per school.

That's going to be double or more what the schools currently get in the Mountain West (a bit shy of $4 million).I've long said $10 million is a rough number that if it's hit, it feels like a win.

As some astute folks have pointed out, what about the exposure element? Is $8.5 million a win if most of your football games are on ESPN and CBS? Yeah, I think so.So, let's see what the deal is (I know people roll their eyes, but I feel certain based on conversations that it will be quite soon) and go from there.

It will certainly be much, much better than the new MW gets.And the mediation with the Mountain West?A complicated and huge piece of the puzzle is the buyouts/lawsuits/mediation with the Mountain West.

How much do CSU and other departing Mountain West schools end up paying?There's been little (or no) news on how mediation is going, which isn't a surprise.

Both sides are likely ordered to be tight-lipped or risk blowing up the talks.

How much the schools must pay, how much the Pac-12 helps in paying those fees and where that places everyone financially will be a big part of the next steps as well.Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Texas State to Pac-12? What rumors could mean for CSU | Opinion.

This article has been shared from the original article on yahoo, here is the link to the original article.