2024 College Football Conference Realignment Overview

By: Steve Pugh, Founder, Versus Sports Simulator
July 2, 2024

This article is subject to change and will be updated as new information emerges.

As the new NCAA athletics year begins on July 1, 2024, college football fans will witness significant shifts in conference memberships. Here is a comprehensive overview of the changes across both FBS and FCS levels, organized by conference.

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FBS Conference Realignment

American Athletic Conference (AAC)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 14 teams

New Teams:

• Army Black Knights (from FBS Independent)

Departures:

• SMU Mustangs (to ACC)

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 17 teams

New Teams:

• California Golden Bears (from Pac-12)
• Stanford Cardinal (from Pac-12)
• SMU Mustangs (from AAC)

Big Ten Conference (Big Ten)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 18 teams

New Teams:

• Oregon Ducks (from Pac-12)
• UCLA Bruins (from Pac-12)
• USC Trojans (from Pac-12)
• Washington Huskies (from Pac-12)

Big 12 Conference (Big 12)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 16 teams

New Teams:

• Arizona Wildcats (from Pac-12)
• Arizona State Sun Devils (from Pac-12)
• Colorado Buffaloes (from Pac-12)
• Utah Utes (from Pac-12)

Departures:

• Oklahoma Sooners (to SEC)
• Texas Longhorns (to SEC)

Conference USA (C-USA)

2023-2024 Size: 9 teams
2024-2025 Size: 10 teams

New Teams:

• Kennesaw State Owls (from FCS)

FBS Independents

2023-2024 Size: 4 teams
2024-2025 Size: 3 teams

Departures:

• Army Black Knights (to AAC)

Mid-American Conference (MAC)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 12 teams

• No changes

Mountain West Conference (MWC)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 12 teams

• No changes

Pacific 12 Conference (Pac-12)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 2 teams

Departures:

• Arizona Wildcats (to Big 12)
• Arizona State Sun Devils (to Big 12)
• California Golden Bears (to ACC)
• Colorado Buffaloes (to Big 12)
• Oregon Ducks (to Big Ten)
• Stanford Cardinal (to ACC)
• UCLA Bruins (to Big Ten)
• USC Trojans (to Big Ten)
• Utah Utes (to Big 12)
• Washington Huskies (to Big Ten)

Southeastern Conference (SEC)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 16 teams

New Teams:

• Oklahoma Sooners (from Big 12)
• Texas Longhorns (from Big 12)

Sun Belt Conference (Sun Belt)

2023-2024 Size: 14 teams
2024-2025 Size: 14 teams

• No changes

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FCS Conference Realignment

Big Sky Conference (Big Sky)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 12 teams

• No changes

Big South-Ohio Valley Conference (Big South-OVC)

2023-2024 Size: 10 teams
2024-2025 Size: 9 teams

New Teams:

• Western Illinois (from Missouri Valley)

Departures:

• Bryant (to CAA)
• Robert Morris (to NEC)

Colonial Athletic Association (CAA)

2023-2024 Size: 15 teams
2024-2025 Size: 16 teams

New Teams:

• Bryant (from Big South-OVC)

FCS Independents

2023-2024 Size: 1 team
2024-2025 Size: 3 teams

New Teams:

• Merrimack (from NEC)
• Sacred Heart (from NEC)

Ivy League (Ivy League)

2023-2024 Size: 8 teams
2024-2025 Size: 8 teams

• No changes

Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC)

2023-2024 Size: 6 teams
2024-2025 Size: 6 teams

• No changes

Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 11 teams

Departures:

• Western Illinois (to Big South-OVC)

Northeast Conference (NEC)

2023-2024 Size: 8 teams
2024-2025 Size: 8 teams

New Teams:

• Robert Morris (from Big South-OVC)
• Mercyhurst (from Division II)

Departures:

• Merrimack (to FCS Independent)
• Sacred Heart (to FCS Independent)

Patriot League (Patriot League)

2023-2024 Size: 7 teams
2024-2025 Size: 7 teams

• No changes

Pioneer Football Conference (Pioneer)

2023-2024 Size: 11 teams
2024-2025 Size: 11 teams

• No changes

Southern Conference (Southern)

2023-2024 Size: 9 teams
2024-2025 Size: 9 teams

• No changes

Southland Conference (Southland)

2023-2024 Size: 8 teams
2024-2025 Size: 9 teams

New Teams:

• Stephen F. Austin (from ASUN/UAC)

Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)

2023-2024 Size: 12 teams
2024-2025 Size: 12 teams

• No changes

United Athletic Conference (UAC)

2023-2024 Size: 9 teams
2024-2025 Size: 9 teams

New Teams:

• West Georgia (from Division II)

Departures:

• Stephen F. Austin (to Southland)

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The 2024 season promises to be an exciting and transformative period for college football, with new rivalries and expanded geographical footprints. Fans and teams alike will be adapting to these changes as the sport continues to evolve.