College football will look differently across the country this season with conference realignment shaking up the college sports world.
Much of the changes come from schools that were in the Pac-12, but there are many other notable moves to note for this season.
Here’s a list and breakdown on what teams are on the move and which conferences they landed in at the Division I level (FBS and FCS):
| SCHOOL | NEW CONFERENCE | OLD CONFERENCE |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
| Arizona State | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
| Army | American | Independent (FBS) |
| Bryant | CAA | Big South-OVC |
| Cal | ACC | Pac-12 |
| Colorado | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
| Kennesaw State | Conference USA | Independent (FCS) |
| Mercyhurst | NEC | PSAC (DII) |
| Merrimack | Independent (FCS) | NEC |
| Oklahoma | SEC | Big 12 |
| Oregon | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
| Robert Morris | NEC | Big South-OVC |
| Sacred Heart | Independent (FCS) | NEC |
| Southern California | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
| SMU | ACC | American |
| Stanford | ACC | Pac-12 |
| Stephen F. Austin | Southland | United Athletic Conference |
| Texas | SEC | Big 12 |
| UCLA | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
| Utah | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
| Washington | Big Ten | Pac-12 |
| West Georgia | United Athletic Conference | Gulf South (DII) |
| Western Illinois | Big South-OVC | MVFC |
ACC takes a trip west
Most college football fans wouldn’t discuss the ACC and westward expansion in the same conversation before 2024, as the conference was threaded head-to-toe with East Coast programs.
Both will be used in the same sentence now, though, as the ACC added Stanford, California and SMU. Cal and Stanford joined the conference from the Pac-12, while SMU climbed aboard playing in the AAC.
The transition epitomizes the drastic changes throughout the collegiate landscape. The conference has 18 members, tied for the most in college football with the Big Ten, and 17 schools competing in the sport (Notre Dame remains independent in football).
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Big Ten admits four Pac-12 teams
The Big Ten added a few more pit stops to its well-known “Maps” commercial during the offseason — four to be exact.
Rather than the video starting in Omaha, Nebraska, the 30-second ad began even farther west in Seattle, Washington for the Huskies. Following the 2023 national title runner-up are Oregon, Southern California (USC) and then UCLA.
We know you’ve been waiting for this one…
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten)
“Maps” is here and it’s beautiful.
Big 12 adds for second consecutive year
The Big 12 was successful during last year’s conference realignment cycle, adding four teams in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF. And it was back at at again, picking up NArizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah as Oklahoma and Texas left for the SEC.
Arizona, Arizona State and Utah joined the Big 12 after the Big Ten added both Oregon and Washington, shrinking the Pac-12 down to just Oregon State and Washington State. Colorado returned after leaving for the Pac-12 in 2011.
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CFP contenders join SEC
The SEC added two of college football’s mainstays in Texas and Oklahoma. The additions pushed the SEC up to 16 total.
Although the SEC’s expansion reiterates its argument as college football’s most dominant conference, the road to glory will only get harder for the two newcomers. Outside of Texas’ meeting against 2023 national champions Michigan, the Longhorns play Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas A&M later in the season.
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