Latest news with #SanMarcos
Forbes
a day ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Texas State Joins Pac-12 In Latest Round Of Conference Realignment
Texas State quarterback Gresch Jensen throws during an NCAA football game against Wyoming on ... More Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 in San Marcos, Texas. Wyoming won 23-14. (AP Photo/Darren Abate) The Pac-12 announced on Monday that the Texas State Bobcats will join the conference as its ninth member beginning with the 2026–27 season. The move gives the Pac-12 a foothold in the state of Texas, opening the door to new media markets, fertile recruiting pipelines, and expanded presence across time zones for television deals. Most importantly, the addition of Texas State gives the conference the eight requisite number of teams it needs to compete at the FBS level starting in the 2026-27 season. There had been much speculation surrounding Pac-12 conference expansion since the conference announced its plans to add members of the Mountain West Conference in September 2024. With Texas State now on board, the Pac-12 appears to have stabilized its footing and reasserted itself as a legitimate player in the Group of Five landscape Brief History Pac-12 Conference Realignment LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 21: the Pac-12 helmet and official game ball on display in front of Resorts ... More World for Pac-12 Media Day at Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World Las Vegas on July 21, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) While the broader story of college football realignment does not begin with the Pac-12, few conferences have been more dramatically reshaped by it. In what now seems like ancient history, the Pac-10 Conference originally pushed to expand into the state of Texas when it pursued the University of Texas in 2010. That deal ultimately fell through, but it marked the beginning of a series of realignment waves that would transform the national landscape. The Pac-10 soon became the Pac-12, adding Colorado and Utah, and for a time, the conference looked poised to rival the SEC and Big Ten in prominence. But a combination of media rights missteps, leadership turnover, and on-field struggles left the Pac-12 vulnerable. The exodus began in earnest in 2022 and 2023, when USC and UCLA announced their departure to the Big Ten, followed by Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado. FILE - An Oregon State fan, front, and a Washington State fan hold "Pac-2" signs, representing the ... More two schools that will remain in the Pac-12 after the 2023-2024 academic year after the other schools in the conference announced plans to leave, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File) Oregon State and Washington State were left holding the banner. Rather than fold, the two schools leveraged their legal control of the conference and its remaining assets to rebuild. They moved quickly to bring in Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga (non-football), San Diego State, and Utah State. Now, in a full-circle twist, the Pac-12 has finally entered Texas, not with the Longhorns, but with Texas State. What Texas State Brings To The Pac-12 Located in the heart of one of the fastest-growing corridors in the country, between Austin and San Antonio, Texas State offers the Pac-12 a critical geographic foothold in Central Texas, a state long viewed as essential to the college football ecosystem. The Bobcats joined the Pac-12 just one day before a July 1 deadline where the buyout to leave the Sun Belt would have doubled from $5 million to $10 million. Texas State's Brock Sturges (5) leads the team onto the field before an NCAA college football game ... More in San Marcos, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) Texas State is a growing university of almost 38,000 students that recently invested $149 million into its athletics facilities including a $37 million football performance center and a $23 million stadium naming rights partnership with University Federal Credit Union. The fan base has responded in kind. Over the past two seasons, Texas State has posted consecutive attendance records, reflecting an energized community and growing local interest in the program's trajectory. On the field, the Bobcats are catching attention. Under head coach G.J. Kinne, Texas State went 8–5 last season and came within three points of defeating Arizona State, a team that went on to play in the College Football Playoff. SAN MARCOS, TX - OCTOBER 14: The Texas State Bobcats logo is displayed on the stadium during Sun ... More Belt Conference game featuring the University of Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and the Texas State Bobcats on October 14, 2023 at Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, TX. (Photo by John Rivera/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) In a landscape where conferences are prioritizing upside, flexibility, and untapped potential, Texas State is a bet on the future. A university that's building fast, buying in fully, and ready to compete on a national stage. What's Next for the Sun Belt? TROY, AL - NOVEMBER 21: A view of the Sun Belt Conference logo on the down marker during the game ... More between the Troy Trojans and the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on November 21, 2020 at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Troy, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Texas State's departure brings the Sun Belt Conference from 14 to 13 members, a change that could prompt the league to explore expansion options to restore numerical balance and maintain divisional alignment. The Sun Belt's latest expansion, which added Southern Mississippi, Marshall, Old Dominion, and James Madison, solidified its reputation as a rising Group of Five conference with strong regional rivalries and growing football relevance. FORT WORTH, TX - DECEMBER 23: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs place kicker Jonathan Barnes (10) kicks the ... More game winning field goal as time expires in the Armed Forces Bowl between the Navy Midshipmen and Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on December 23, 2016, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, TX. Louisiana Tech defeats Navy 48-45. (Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Speculation is starting to spread on whether the Sun Belt will look to add another team to account for the loss of Texas State. Potential candidates include current Conference-USA members Louisiana Tech, Florida International, Middle Tennessee State, and Western Kentucky. The latter three schools are all former Sun Belt members. Each candidate presents a different mix of geographic alignment, institutional fit, and media potential. The Sun Belt has been strategic in recent years, prioritizing football-first programs with regional appeal. A New Era for the Pac-12 LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 16: Kenny Wooten #14 of the Oregon Ducks is introduced before the ... More championship game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament against the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 16, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) Texas State's move to the Pac-12 marks more than just a change in conference affiliation, it reflects the broader evolution of college football. For the Pac-12, the addition of Texas State secures a critical eighth FBS member, expands the league's footprint into a talent-rich region, and signals a willingness to reinvent. For Texas State, the move represents a significant step up in visibility, competition, and opportunity.
Washington Post
2 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school with addition of Texas State
SAN MARCOS, Texas — Texas State is joining the Pac-12, giving the rebuilding conference the eighth football-playing school it needed to maintain its status as an FBS conference. The Pac-12 and Texas State announced Monday that the Bobcats will join Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as the nine foundational members of the new Pac-12, with the league's official launch set for July 1, 2026.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school with addition of Texas State
SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — Texas State is joining the Pac-12, giving the rebuilding conference the eighth football-playing school it needed to maintain its status as an FBS conference. The Pac-12 and Texas State announced Monday that the Bobcats will join Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as the nine foundational members of the new Pac-12, with the league's official launch set for July 1, 2026. Advertisement Since Gonzaga doesn't field a football team, the Pac-12 needed one more to remain eligible as a Football Bowl Subdivision league. Only Oregon State and Washington State had remained in the Pac-12 after the departures of 10 teams to the three other power conferences: the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. Texas State has been in the Sun Belt Conference since 2013, after making its FBS debut with one season in the WAC in 2012. Texas State becomes the ninth all-sports member in the Pac-12. "We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,' Commissioner Teresa Gould said. 'It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today's landscape with student-athletes in mind. ... Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats' future trajectory continue to shine big and bright.' The Texas State campus is in San Marcos, which is only about 35 miles south of the University of Texas in Austin. Texas State has more than 40,000 students, and is among the 25 largest undergraduate enrollments among public universities in the United States. Kelly Damphousse, the president of Texas State, called joining the Pac-12 a historic moment for the school that is a national research university. Advertisement 'Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move. It is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,' Damphousse said. "Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a Texas State degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution.' ___ AP college football:
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rebuilding Pac-12 gets its needed 8th football school with addition of Texas State
SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) — Texas State is joining the Pac-12, giving the rebuilding conference the eighth football-playing school it needed to maintain its status as an FBS conference. The Pac-12 and Texas State announced Monday that the Bobcats will join Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, Oregon State, San Diego State, Utah State and Washington State as the nine foundational members of the new Pac-12, with the league's official launch set for July 1, 2026. Since Gonzaga doesn't field a football team, the Pac-12 needed one more to remain eligible as a Football Bowl Subdivision league. Only Oregon State and Washington State had remained in the Pac-12 after the departures of 10 teams to the three other power conferences: the ACC, Big Ten and Big 12. Texas State has been in the Sun Belt Conference since 2013, after making its FBS debut with one season in the WAC in 2012. Texas State becomes the ninth all-sports member in the Pac-12. 'We are extremely excited to welcome Texas State as a foundational member of the new Pac-12,' Commissioner Teresa Gould said. 'It is a new day in college sports and the most opportune time to launch a new league that is positioned to succeed in today's landscape with student-athletes in mind. ... Texas State has shown a commitment to competing and winning at the highest level as well as to providing student-athletes with a well-rounded college experience academically, athletically and socially. We look forward to seeing the Bobcats' future trajectory continue to shine big and bright.' The Texas State campus is in San Marcos, which is only about 35 miles south of the University of Texas in Austin. Texas State has more than 40,000 students, and is among the 25 largest undergraduate enrollments among public universities in the United States. Kelly Damphousse, the president of Texas State, called joining the Pac-12 a historic moment for the school that is a national research university. 'Joining the Pac-12 is more than an athletic move. It is a declaration of our rising national profile, our commitment to excellence, and our readiness to compete and collaborate with some of the most respected institutions in the country,' Damphousse said. 'Our acceptance into the Pac-12 affirms the strength of our academic vision, our commitment to providing access to a Texas State degree, the momentum of our athletic programs, and the ambition that defines this institution.' ___ AP college football:
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Slushies and slayings: El Salvador's state of emergency brings peace, but survivors still haunted by MS-13 gang past
SAN MARCOS (El Salvador), June 30 — Esperanza Martinez lost three relatives who were murdered and saw numerous bodies left in the streets of her neighbourhood, a former stronghold of the notorious MS-13 street gang in El Salvador. While she has lived more peacefully lately, she remains on alert: gang members are 'hidden, but still there,' she whispered. The 10 de Octubre neighbourhood of San Marcos near the Salvadoran capital has been transformed in the three years since President Nayib Bukele launched a 'war' on gangs that had made the Central American nation one of the most violent in the world. Today, at lunchtime, buyers bustle in front of market stalls, a motorcyclist makes food deliveries, and a woman sits in the back of a dilapidated pickup truck selling slushies. It is a scene that was unthinkable just a few years ago, when no intruders were tolerated in the vast areas of El Salvador controlled by Mara Salvatrucha -- commonly known as MS-13 -- and rival gang Barrio 18. 'Many people entered here and never left. I saw dead people lying there, shot or stabbed. There's a clandestine cemetery on the hill,' said Martinez, who has spent 34 of her 65 years in the neighbourhood. Law-abiding residents had to lock themselves indoors at night, she recalled. Her 12-year-old niece was murdered for refusing to become a gang member, her mother suffered the same fate for trying to defend her, and her sister's husband was killed for not paying an extortion demand. One of Martinez's three daughters emigrated to the United States at the age of 17 to escape death threats. This aerial view shows the 10 de Octubre residential neighbourhood in San Marcos, El Salvador, on June 14, 2025. — AFP pic Murals replace graffiti The 10 de Octubre neighbourhood was once ruled by Elmer Canales Rivera, nicknamed 'Hollywood Crook,' one of the leaders of MS-13 who is now in the United States awaiting trial. On the walls, 'MS' or 'Hollywood' graffiti has been replaced by murals of balloons, butterflies and multicoloured flowers. A giant 'N' on a sky-blue background refers to both Bukele (by his first name) and his New Ideas party. The 10 de Octubre neighbourhood is one of 11 areas placed under military protection by Bukele following the March 2022 declaration of a state of emergency that led to the arrest of 87,000 people without the need for warrants. 'We will flush out every last hidden terrorist,' the president recently promised as his security forces surrounded a district on the outskirts of San Salvador where officials said gang members were trying to regroup. While there is a risk of the gangs making a comeback, the show of force also reflects Bukele's desire to keep playing 'an important public role,' said Jose Miguel Cruz, an expert on Salvadoran gangs at Florida International University. Bukele, who began a second presidential term in June 2024, rejects accusations of authoritarianism and claims to have made El Salvador 'the safest country in the world.' His harsh crackdown on criminal groups has led to a drastic drop in the homicide rate, making him popular at home. Human rights organisations, however, have criticised his methods. Amnesty International and local non-governmental organisations such as Cristosal and Socorro Juridico denounce arbitrary arrests, acts of torture, the deaths of about 400 prisoners, and the incarceration of thousands of innocent people. It is a topic no one wants to discuss in the 10 de Octubre neighbourhood. Two boys play on their bicycles in a street of the 10 de Octubre residential neighbourhood in San Marcos, El Salvador, on June 14, 2025. — AFP pic 'A little peace' At a roundabout where buses depart, Carlos Sanchez, a 48-year-old car washer, warned: 'We mustn't be careless.' 'Today we have a little peace, but remnants (of gangs) are hidden in the hills,' he said. MS-13, which has been declared a terrorist organisation by the United States, and Barrio 18 controlled 85 percent of the national territory, lived off extortion and drug trafficking, and are estimated to have killed around 200,000 people over three decades, according to Bukele. 'One day, they stabbed a young man to death in a minibus. They wanted to kill my two daughters too because they refused to cooperate. Many complied for fear of reprisals. They used children as lookouts,' Sanchez said. Gangsters also evicted families from their homes at gunpoint. 'They wanted to take mine, but I managed to talk them out of it,' Antonia Alfaro, 67, said in her small home. 'Some are still hanging around, but I have nowhere else to go.' — AFP
