Will you recognize college football in 2024?
Another round of realignment is here. Texas and Oklahoma will be in the SEC. USC and UCLA are in the Big Ten.
There were more upsets in 2023. Oregon and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are headed to the Big 12. The ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU on Friday. Television, the 12-team College Football Playoff, NIL and the transfer portal have changed roster management.
The army became the last team to move. The Black Knights announced they will travel to the American Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
Sporting News is preparing you preventatively for 2024. Which teams are participating in these 10 conferences? How many independents are left? How many conference games? Which conferences have divisions? Everything is covered here (for now).
Here’s a look at what college football will look like in 2024:
MORE: What the 12-team CFP will look like in 2024
How many schools are there in the FBS in 2024
A total of 134 schools will participate in the FBS in 2024-2025. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State will leave the FCS in 2023, and Kennesaw State will join the FBS in 2024.
Which schools participate in the Power 5?
A total of 69 schools will participate in Power 5 conferences in 2024, although the future of the Pac-12 is uncertain. An overview of the composition of these conferences:
ACC
| Boston College | NC State |
| Cal | Pitt |
| Clemson | EMS |
| Duke | Stanford |
| State of Florida | Syracuse |
| Georgia Tech | Virginia |
| Louisville | Virginia Tech |
| Miami | Waking up forest |
| North Carolina |
How many teams?
The ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU. The ACC has the same 17 schools heading into the 2024 season, and Notre Dame still has a five-game deal with the conference.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
The ACC added three teams and reached a television deal with ESPN that runs through 2036.
Conference details
The ACC eliminated divisions for the 2023 season and still plays eight conference games. The top two teams in the standings will play in the ACC championship game.
Big 12
| Arizona | Kansas |
| Arizona State | Kansas State |
| Baylor | Oklahoma State |
| BYU | TCU |
| Colorado | Texas Technology |
| Cincinnati | UCF |
| Houston | Utah |
| Iowa State | West Virginia |
How many teams?
The Big 12 will have 16 schools for the 2024 season.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
The Big 12 had 10 schools in 2022. The conference added BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF for the 2023 season and lost Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC in 2024. Arizona State Arizona, Colorado and Utah join the Big 12 in 2024.
Conference details
The Big 12 will have no divisions and will play nine conference games in 2024. The conference championship game will feature the top two teams at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Big ten
| Indiana | state of ohio |
| Illinois | Oregon |
| Iowa | Penn State |
| Maryland | Purdue |
| Michigan | Rutgers |
| Michigan State | UCLA |
| Minnesota | U.S.C. |
| Nebraska | Wisconsin |
| North West | Washington |
How many teams?
The Big Ten will have 18 teams in 2024-25.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten.
Conference details
The Big Ten will have no divisions in 2024. The conference will continue to play nine Big Ten games. The top two teams will face off in the Big Ten championship game.
Pac-12
| Oregon State | Washington State |
How many teams?
Now, the Pac-12 will have two teams in 2024-25. Oregon State and Washington State will need to find a new home.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are headed to the Big 12. Cal and Stanford are headed to the ACC.
Conference details
The Pac-12 moved away from divisions in 2022. The top two teams will compete in the Pac-12 Championship Game in 2023.
SECOND
| Alabama | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Oklahoma |
| Auburn | Ole Mademoiselle |
| Florida | Caroline from the south |
| Georgia | Tennessee |
| Kentucky | Texas |
| LSU | Texas A&M |
| Mississippi State | Vanderbilt |
How many teams?
The SEC will have 16 teams in 2024-25.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
Oklahoma and Texas will join the conference next season.
Conference details
The SEC will have no divisions in 2024. Teams will play eight conference games. The top two teams will face off in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.
Independents
How many teams?
There are three independents left in college football. Notre Dame remains independent in 2024, but the Irish have a five-game deal with the ACC that will continue.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
BYU, Liberty and New Mexico State joined the conferences in 2023. Army will join the American Athletic Conference in 2024.
Group of 5
A total of 62 schools will participate in the Group of 5 in 2024. Overview of the composition of these conferences:
American Athletic Conference
| Army | Rice |
| Charlotte | South Florida |
| East Carolina | Temple |
| FAU | Tulane |
| Memphis | Tulsa |
| Marine | UAB |
| North Texas | UTSA |
How many teams?
The American Athletic Conference will have 14 schools heading into the 2024-25 season.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
SMU left for the ACC and will start in 2024 but the conference added Army in return. Cincinnati, Houston and UCF left for the Big 12 in 2023. The AAC added six Conference-USA schools in Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA.
Conference details
The AAC will play an eight-game conference schedule, and there are no divisions in the conference. The top two teams will advance to the AAC championship game.
USA Conference
| FIU | New Mexico State |
| Jacksonville State | Sam Houston |
| Freedom | UTEP |
| Louisiana Technology | Western Kentucky |
| Middle Tennessee | Kennesaw State |
How many teams?
Conference USA will have 10 teams in 2024.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
Kennesaw State joins the conference. Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB and UTSA left for the American Athletic Conference in 2023. New Mexico State, Liberty, Sam Houston and Jacksonville State joined the conference in 2023.
Conference details
Conference USA has no divisions. The teams play eight conference games and the top two teams will meet in the conference championship game.
MAC
| East | West |
| Akron | Ball Condition |
| Bowling green | Central Michigan |
| Buffalo | Eastern Michigan |
| Kent State | Northern Illinois |
| Miami, Ohio | Toledo |
| Ohio | Western Michigan |
How many teams?
The MAC will have 12 schools in 2024.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
The 12 MAC schools have been grouped together since 1998. UMass will join the MAC in 2025.
Conference details
The MAC will continue its eight-game conference schedule, and the winners of the East and West divisions will advance to the conference championship game.
Mountain West Conference
| Aviation | New Mexico |
| Boise State | San Diego State |
| State of Colorado | San Jose State |
| Fresno State | UNLV |
| Hawaii | State of Utah |
| Nevada | Wyoming |
How many teams?
The Mountain West will have 12 teams in 2024.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
San Diego State left a note announcing its intention to resign from the MWC, then reaffirmed its membership on July 3. The Aztecs are still present at the conference.
Conference details
The Mountain West Conference eliminated divisions in 2023 and teams play eight conference games. The top two teams face off in the conference championship game.
Solar belt
| East | West |
| Appalachian State | Arkansas State |
| Coastal Carolina | Louisiana |
| South Georgia | UL-Monroe |
| State of Georgia | South Alabama |
| James Madison | Miss of the South |
| Marshal | State of Texas |
| Old Dominion | Troy |
How many teams?
The Sun Belt will have 14 schools in the 2024-25 season.
Who’s in? Who went out ?
The Sun Belt added Marshall, Old Dominion, James Madison and Southern Miss in 2022. There are no plans to expand the conference.
Conference details
The Sun Belt has two divisions, will play eight conference games and the top teams will meet in the Sun Belt championship game on the higher seed’s campus.
