• Loading stock data...
Thursday, June 26, 2025

How Latest Conference Realignment Will Impact College Football Playoff

  • The Pac-12, Mountain West, and AAC continue to be in the spotlight.
  • A fight for supremacy among non–Power 4 conferences has broken out.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

Conference realignment continues to wreak havoc among non–Power 4 schools early into the 2024 college football season.

Monday was another wild chapter of the saga filled with official announcements, reports, and, of course, rumors. The landscape isn’t done shifting, but here’s what we know about where things stand for the lower half of FBS programs:

  • The Pac-12 is still searching for more members. The only official moves announced so far are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State joining Oregon State and Washington State in 2026. At least two more members are needed by 2026 for the Pac-12 to retain its FBS status. Late Monday, multiple reports indicated Utah State had accepted a bid to leave the Mountain West and join the Pac-12.
  • The American Athletic Conference is keeping four key programs. Memphis, South Florida, Tulane, and UTSA made a statement Monday committing to stay in the AAC, after reports that the Pac-12 was targeting some or all of those schools. The conference then posted that all 15 members had committed to stick around. 
  • The Mountain West is hoping to thwart more departures to the Pac-12. Late Monday, the conference was working on a written commitment from existing members to remain in the conference. UNLV and Utah State were said to be top expansion targets for the Pac-12, according to Action Network. Air Force had been linked to the Pac-12, in addition to the AAC. 
  • Gonzaga isn’t joining the Pac-12 yet. There was some confusion Monday about the Bulldogs (who don’t have a football team) joining the conference in all other sports. A source told Front Office Sports college reporter Amanda Christovich that Gonzaga has not received a formal offer to join the Pac-12 or put in an application. There have been discussions and interest, however.

College Football Playoff Bid at Stake

How the conference realignment dust settles outside the Power 4 will have a major impact on the expanded, 12-team College Football Playoff.

As currently constructed, the top-five-ranked conference champions in the country receive automatic bids into the playoff. The Pac-12, Mountain West, and AAC are fighting for supremacy among the new Group of 6, and all likely envision a scenario where their conference champion annually receives that final automatic postseason bid. While unlikely in most years, another non–Power 4 school (conference champion or not) could still make the CFP if it were ranked high enough.

The CFP has not released its first official 2024 rankings. Boise State is currently the highest-ranked non–Power 4 team in the AP poll at No. 25.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 16, 2023; Stanford, California, USA; Sacramento State Hornets running back Elijah Tau-Tolliver (25) celebrates after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium.

Sacramento State ‘Full Steam Ahead’ for FBS Despite Not Receiving NCAA Waiver

The Hornets launched a public campaign to join the FBS last fall.
Jun 7, 2025; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina infielder Jackson Van De Brake (6) and outfielder Carter French (18) celebrate an out during the first inning of the Super Regionals game against Arizona in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Most Power Conference Sports Won’t See Revenue-Sharing Dollars

But there is a silver lining for Olympic sports: more scholarships.

Colleges Are Raising Student Fees to Pay for Athlete Revenue-Sharing

Schools are preparing to pay student athletes up to $20.5 million annually.
Dec 27, 2024; San Diego, CA, USA; The Washington State Cougars ban perform during the second half at the Holiday Bowl at Snapdragon Stadium. Mandatory Credit:

Pac-12 Announces CBS As ‘Anchor’ in New Media-Rights Deal

The league may announce expansion before finalizing the rest of the package.

Featured Today

Mar 15, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; UAB Blazers forward Yaxel Lendeborg (3) dribbles the ball upcourt against the North Texas Mean Green during the first half at Dickies Arena

NIL Is Shrinking the Pool of NBA Draft Entrants

Agents are now advising many players to stay in school.
Apr 24, 2025; Green Bay, WI, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Abdul Carter on the red carpet before the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field
June 21, 2025

‘More Is More’: The Elite Luxury Jewelers Decking Out Athletes

Meet the elite group of luxury designers crafting the biggest statement pieces.
Dec 5, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; FIFA president Gianni Infantino presents the FIFA Club World Cup trophy during the Club Word Cup draw at Telemundo Studios.
June 15, 2025

Revamped Club World Cup Is FIFA’s Billion-Dollar Gamble

The revamped soccer event debuts amid controversy.
Jun 10, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino stands during the anthem against the Switzerland during the first at Geodis Park
June 14, 2025

Gold Cup Is Complicated for USMNT—but U.S. Soccer Has Its Eyes on..

Uncertain tournament success isn’t fazing forward-looking U.S. soccer.
Wisconsin cornerback Xavier Lucas (6) is shown during the first quarter of their game against South Dakota Saturday, September 7 , 2024 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Sues Miami for ‘Tampering’ With Football Transfer

Xavier Lucas signed NIL deals in Madison before transferring to Miami.
Washington's Ben Gorsage, right, and Orland Park Sandburg's Mateo Ramiro-Garcia tangle at the start of the Class 3A state 800-meter run Saturday, May 31, 2025 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Gorsage took third place, followed by Ramiro-Garcia in fourth.
June 19, 2025

Dozens of Olympic Sports Have Been Cut in Wake of House v...

Tennis, track and field, and swimming and diving appear heavily impacted.
June 19, 2025

Omaha Delivers Again: LSU, Coastal Carolina Set for CWS Showdown

LSU and Coastal Carolina begin their three-game series Saturday.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
Jun 16, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks starting pitcher Gage Wood (14) celebrates completing a no hitter against the Murray State Racers at Charles Schwab Field.
June 17, 2025

College World Series Enters Cinderella Era

A series of upsets gives the fast-growing event a new look this year.
Jun 14, 2025; Omaha, Neb, USA; LSU Tigers starting pitcher Kade Anderson (32) pitches against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the seventh inning at Charles Schwab Field.
June 16, 2025

How College Athlete Buyouts Could Work in the Revenue-Sharing Era

The buyouts could put both players and schools at a disadvantage.
Texas' Sam Hurley watches the announcement of the competitors in the high jump at the 2023 NCAA outdoor track and field championships, June 9, 2023 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.
June 16, 2025

Revenue-Sharing Model Could Boost Programs in Football’s Shadow

“We’re not getting paid the millions of dollars that football is.”
UT
June 12, 2025

Zakai Zeigler Denied Injunction for Fifth Year at Tennessee

The former Tennessee guard sued the NCAA over potential lost NIL earnings.