Several programs, including Oklahoma and Texas, formally switched conference allegiances on Monday. That’s just the start of the many alterations the college landscape will undergo this year.
Here’s a run-down of all the changes we’ll see this fall.
CONFERENCE REALIGNMENT
ACC • Incoming: Cal, Stanford (Pac-12); SMU (AAC) | Outgoing: N/A
On Monday, the A(ll) Coasts Conference added former Pac-12 members, Cal and Stanford, along with SMU, which joined the conference after 11 seasons in the American.
With the acquisitions, the ACC has 17 members. The top two in the standings at the end of the regular season will meet in the conference championship game.
American • Incoming: Army (Independent) | Outgoing: SMU (ACC)
The AAC made up for SMU’s departure by adding the former independent Army. Last season, the Black Knights finished 6-6 in head coach Jeff Monken’s 10th season. After dallying in a shotgun-based offensive attack to disappointing results — Army finished 113th in the country in scoring (20.5 points per game) — the Black Knights are returning to a triple-option, which could make them difficult to gameplan against this season.
Big Ten • Incoming: Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington (Pac-12) [Aug. 2] | Outgoing: N/A
The Big Ten officially expands next month with Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington defecting from the former conference of champions.
According to Action Network, Oregon (+215) has the best odds among the upcoming additions to win the Big Ten in 2024, followed by USC (+2200), Washington (+6500) and UCLA (+15000). But they all trail Ohio State, which is not only the favorite but has the second-best odds of winning the national championship in January 2025.
Big 12 • Incoming: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah (Pac-12) [Aug. 2] | Outgoing: Oklahoma, Texas (SEC)
A year after adding BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and USF, the Big 12 adds the “Four Corners” Pac-12 schools. However, even those eight schools might not be enough to compensate for the massive loss of Oklahoma and Texas.
At least with the expanded 12-team playoff (more on that later), the Big 12 winner is all but certain to receive a top-four seed and first-round bye.
Conference-USA • Incoming: Kennesaw State | Outgoing: N/A
Kennesaw State begins its transition from FCS to FBS. Due to NCAA rules, it’s ineligible for a postseason bowl game. Next year, Conference-USA will add two more former FCS programs, Missouri State and Delaware.
Pac-12 • Incoming: N/A | Outgoing: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah (Big 12) [Aug. 2]; Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington (Big Ten) [Aug. 2]
Oregon State and Washington State were left out to dry in conference realignment. Although technically Pac-12 members, they will play a majority-Mountain West Conference schedule in 2024.
SEC • Incoming: Oklahoma, Texas (Big 12) | Outgoing: N/A
Already at the epicenter of college football, the SEC is even bigger by adding two of the biggest brands in the sport. But the Sooners and Longhorns won’t just make a difference on Saturdays in the fall.
Oklahoma has the country’s best softball program, while Texas won the Director’s Cup, given annually to the best university in all sports, for the third time in four seasons.
PLAYOFF FORMAT
After 10 years as a four-team field, the playoff expands to 12 teams. Five conference champions automatically qualify, and the four that finish the highest in the final College Football Playoff rankings receive a bye. Seven at-large bids complete the playoff.
The first round — to be played on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 — will be held at the home stadiums of the teams ranked Nos. 5-8, while the final three rounds will occur at neutral sites.
RULES CHANGES
College football introduces the two-minute warning, which has been part of the professional game since 1942. Helmet-to-helmet communication between coaches and quarterbacks will also be allowed, ending the possibility of sign-stealing allegations. Unless, of course, Connor Stalions knows how to hack into a radio signal.
NETWORK CHANGES
Big Ten: The Big Ten’s media rights deal is the envy of everyone in college football. In 2022, the conference secured a gargantuan seven-year, $7 billion deal with NBC, Fox and CBS. Fox will air most of its games in the early afternoon, followed by CBS, where the Big Ten will replace the SEC at 3:30 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, NBC will showcase the conference in primetime.
Pac-12: In May, after an arduous journey to secure a media rights deal that was at least partially responsible for its downfall, the Pac-12 reached an agreement with the CW and Fox.
SEC: ESPN is the SEC’s exclusive home after CBS began airing conference games in 1996. If you thought ESPN’s fawning over Alabama was exhausting before, just wait.