Exploring College Football Realignment: The world of college football has been buzzing with conference realignment news and changes in recent years. From Power Five conferences to Group of Five, schools are making seismic moves that are reshaping the landscape of the sport. In this blog, we will break down all the latest conference realignment moves for the next two seasons and explore the potential implications for the future of college football. The upcoming college football season has several changes and teams are trying their best to make it to the top.
Exploring College Football Realignment: ACC – Status Quo and Notre Dame’s Agreement
The ACC is set to maintain its current 14-team format for the upcoming 2023 season. No expansion or contraction is planned at this time. The conference previously expanded in 2013 with the addition of Syracuse and Pittsburgh from the Big East, along with Notre Dame agreeing to play five ACC games per season from 2014 onwards.
Big Ten: Adding Powerhouses USC and UCLA
The Big Ten will remain unchanged for the 2023 season with 14 teams. However, the conference is gearing up for a major expansion in 2024, welcoming the prestigious USC Trojans and UCLA Bruins. The addition of these two powerhouse programs will push the conference to 16 teams, significantly altering the competitive landscape.
Big 12: New Teams Joining and Departing
The Big 12 is undergoing significant changes with both arrivals and departures. In the 2023 season, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF will join the conference, expanding the league to 14 teams. However, in 2024, Oklahoma and Texas will make their anticipated move to the SEC. As a counterbalance, Colorado is set to rejoin the Big 12, maintaining a 13-team configuration, with the potential for further expansion.
Pac-12: USC and UCLA to Big Ten, Uncertainty Ahead
The Pac-12 is experiencing considerable turnover as well. In 2024, both USC and UCLA will exit to join the Big Ten, leaving the conference with nine teams. The future is uncertain, and there is speculation about potential newcomers to offset the losses.
SEC: Powerhouse Additions
The SEC is gearing up for a blockbuster move in 2024 as Oklahoma and Texas make their highly-anticipated arrival. This will elevate the conference’s member count to 16 teams, sparking intense rivalries between former Big 12 teams Oklahoma and Texas A&M and former Big Eight rivals Oklahoma and Missouri.
AAC: Losing Top Teams to Big 12
The AAC will experience significant changes in 2023, losing Cincinnati, Houston, and UCF to the Big 12. To counter these departures, the conference has welcomed six new teams, leading to a 14-team configuration for the upcoming season.
Conference USA: Massive Movement and Replacement
Conference USA will see the most movement, with six teams departing and being replaced by five others over the next two seasons. Notable departures include Marshall, Old Dominion, and Southern Miss to the Sun Belt in 2022. In 2023, Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA will join the AAC. The conference will see a total of nine teams for the upcoming season, and Kennesaw State will further expand it to 10 teams in 2024.
Predicting the Future: Impact on College Football
The recent conference realignment moves are reshaping the college football landscape, affecting rivalries, competitive balance, and media deals. The growing trend of Power Five conferences expanding to 16 teams will likely have a cascading effect on the Group of Five, as it seeks to strengthen its position in the ever-evolving college football ecosystem.
As the dust settles from these changes, fans eagerly anticipate how these moves will impact college football as a whole. The potential for more expansion, rivalry renewals, and competitive matchups are sure to keep college football enthusiasts on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the kickoff of the 2023 season and beyond. Only time will tell how these realignment moves will shape the future of college football and its cherished traditions. The college football betting sites are predicted to have all the betting available before the preseason begins.
