The Sun Belt Conference announced today that the Texas State Bobcats will officially join the league on July 1, 2013.
Texas State is currently an FCS Independent and becomes a member of the FBS when they join the WAC on July 1, 2012.
The Bobcats are the first team to officially announce their move from the WAC for 2013. Louisiana Tech and UTSA are likely moving to Conference USA while San Jose State and Utah State appear headed to the MWC.
Texas State is the fifth largest university in Texas. The Bobcats, led by head coach Dennis Franchione, play their games on campus at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos. The stadium currently seats 15,968 but will ultimately seat 34,800. It also has the distinction of being used in scenes for the NBC series “Friday Night Lights.”
With Georgia State joining the Sun Belt in 2013 and Florida International and North Texas rumored to be leaving for C-USA, here is what the SBC will look like in 2013:
Sun Belt Conference
Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Georgia State, Middle Tennessee, South Alabama, Texas State, Troy, Western Kentucky, UL Lafayette, ULM
“Texas State is a great addition to the Sun Belt Conference as the Bobcat athletic program is destined for success in the Football Bowl Subdivision,” said Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson. “The Sun Belt Conference’s rise to prominence will continue with Texas State as part of our league.”
“We are very excited about becoming a member of the Sun Belt Conference in 2013,” said Texas State Director of Athletics Dr. Larry Teis. “We know that our student-athletes will be eager to succeed in the Sun Belt, and we will enter the conference ready to compete. We look forward to building new rivalries with some Sun Belt schools and renewing rivalries with others. The Sun Belt Conference encompasses eight states from Texas to Florida that are rich in college athletic traditions, especially in the sport of FBS football.”
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…….so, will they move to C-USA in 2016 or so?
we will find out in a few years!
im exiceted for texas state move to the sun belt cant wait till the game against lousiana mornore go bobcats