Note: This story is featured in the 2026 edition of Dave Campbell's Texas Football's Summer Magazine, which you can order here.

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Manifest Destiny – the belief that American settlers were destined to expand west – was invoked to annex the state of Texas in 1845. Roughly 180 years later, the concept is back in vogue, at least in San Marcos. Texas State packed its bags and is heading west, away from the Sun Belt Conference and into the new and unchartered world of a revamped Pac-12.  

The move was a boon for the Bobcats for many reasons, including an improved television deal and more revenue when the G6 teams need extra resources more than ever. The move also represents added prestige and more recognizable opponents, including Boise State. Maybe the new-look Pac-12 isn’t a power conference, but it is right there with the American as the best league in the G6.  

“What an opportunity it is to play in the Pac-12 against those high-level schools and to be able to play on the national stage,” Texas State starting quarterback Brad Jackson said. “The Pac-12 was so iconic for such a long time, so to be able to play in that conference in the first year it’s coming back is really fun and really exciting.” 

The move west also comes with some challenges, most notably travel. Pac-12 After Dark will have a new meaning for the Bobcats since Texas State is the easternmost program in the conference. The team was provided a glimpse of their new reality last year in the Week 3 trip to Arizona State, which kicked off at 8:30 p.m. Central Time. The 2026 slate includes trips to San Diego State, Boise State, and Oregon State. If the flex game stays a trip to Colorado State on Nov. 28, the Bobcats will travel a combined 6,285 miles for four conference games.  

“We got back from that Arizona State game at like 4 or 5 in the morning,” Jackson remembered. “I’m going to bed and I’m seeing the sun rise. I’m like, I don’t like this.”  

G.J. Kinne spent the first three years raising the floor and building the foundation at Texas State. The Bobcats hadn’t reached a bowl in the 11 years playing FBS football prior to Kinne’s arrival in 2023. He’s led them to three straight bowl wins in his three seasons in charge and has a pair of eight-win seasons – the only two in 14 years at this level.  

His next goal is to raise the ceiling. No one in the football facility is popping champagne or patting themselves on the back for the 23-16 record over the last three years. They’re happy with the progress, but not satisfied with the results. Success quickly changes expectations in college football and no one needs to tell Kinne that Texas State needs to evolve into conference contenders, not just bowl game participants.  

“When I got hired, would people be fired up that we’ve won three straight bowl games? I think, yes,” Kinne said. “But I think everyone in this building agrees we could have done a bit more in 2024 and 2025 based on the talent we’ve had and the coaches we’ve had.” 

Doing that in the Pac-12 won’t be easy. Texas State is 12-12 in conference play under Kinne and the path to the Pac-12 title game figures to be harder than it was to the Sun Belt Championship game.  

The good news is that the Bobcats have a talented roster, one that stacks up with the 2024 season. Jackson returns at quarterback alongside a pair of 1,000-yard receivers. The defense is now under the direction of Will Windham, who joined the staff after five seasons at South Alabama. Texas State will score points. If it can force a few turnovers and get a couple of stops, watch out.  

Kinne doesn’t want to make any predictions. After all, migration breeds uncertainty.  

“This might be our best team, but is by far our hardest schedule, too,” he said. “We’ll see what it looks like in the end.”