BREAKING: Dallas Baptist Joins Pac-12 Baseball, Will Begin Play in 2027

DALLAS, Texas (TXAN 24) - Dallas Baptist University is officially headed west. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, DBU has signed the paperwork to join the Pac-12 in baseball beginning July 1, 2026. The Patriots’ first season in their new conference will take place in the spring of 2027.

Currently competing in Conference USA, DBU has built a reputation as one of the nation’s most consistent programs. The Patriots are one of only five schools in college baseball to qualify for 11 consecutive NCAA Tournaments, a list that includes Florida, LSU, Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt.

The move places DBU on a bigger stage, aligning the program with a Power Five conference that has historically produced elite talent and national championship contenders. For the Pac-12, which has been working to stabilize and rebuild amid sweeping college athletics realignment, DBU adds a proven program with national credibility in baseball.

“Dallas Baptist has earned respect across the country for its consistency and player development,” Thamel reported. “The addition gives the Pac-12 a strong program right in the heart of Texas.”

The Patriots will continue competing in Conference USA until the official transition in 2026. For DBU, the move signals both recognition of its sustained success and a major step toward strengthening its future in the ever-shifting landscape of college athletics.