One of the most impactful events of the college football season was conference realignment. There have been major changes to the Power Five in college football and changes to the traditions that are a vital part of the sport.
Fox analyst and former NFL and USC quarterback Matt Leinart spoke with Bleacher Report about the college football landscape and how conference realignment has changed the game.
“I will say college football is changing,” he said. “It’s evolving and kids are getting paid now. Traditions are going to end and new traditions are going to form. Rivalries are going to end and new rivalries are going to form. That’s just the way it’s evolving, so I have mindset “If you dwell on the past and dwell on all that, you’re going to be left behind. “…You have to swim or be left behind, and that’s my view as an analyst. You have to Advance.”
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Instead of sounding bitter, Leinart explained that conference realignment is a good thing for the sport as a whole.
“I think college football is in a great place. People are nervous about change, and rightfully so. But I think once the season starts, people will be excited that college football is back. And In a few years, it’s going to be the new normal and we’ll kind of forget about all these other things that are happening.” Launderer Report H/t
Although we may be in the early stages of a major conference realignment, Leinart is right, as this may just be the tip of the iceberg.
What are the major conference realignments that will begin in 2024?
Many significant conference realignments begin after this current college football season. One of the main reasons is the dissolution of the Pac-12, as the Conference of Champions will lose 10 of its 12 teams in its current form. The easiest way to discuss changes is to go conference by conference and discuss the programs in place.
SECOND
The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will add the fewest programs next season as it will add two programs. However, they could be the biggest buzz since the conference will add the Oklahoma Early and the Texas Longhorns in its major college football conference.
Big 12
The Big 12 Conference will add four programs to join the conference in 2024. The four schools are the Arizona Wildcats, Arizona State Sun Devilsthe Colorado Buffaloes and the Utah Utes.
ACC
The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) will have the lowest crop of incoming programs next season, as three teams will be heading to the conference. They added the Stanford Cardinal, SMU Mustangs and California Golden Bears.
Big ten
The Big Ten Conference is preparing to add four new members from the West Coast next season. The UCLA Bruins, USC TrojansOregon Ducks and Washington Huskies will all be the final members of the Big Ten next season.
