The landscape of college football is constantly evolving, thanks to a plethora of rule changes and technicalities, but one thing more than others — conference realignment. On Saturday (July 1) the Sun Belt, Conference USA, Big 12, and American Athletic Conference (AAC) all witnessed noteworthy changes, which have led to shifts in power dynamic within each conference and college football overall. Let’s take a look at the recent conference realignment developments within these NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences.
Sun Belt Conference:
The Sun Belt Conference (SBC) has been steadily strengthening its position within the FBS In recent years. This time around, the conference made a strategic expansion by welcoming four new members: Southern Miss, Marshall, Old Dominion, and James Madison. This move further increases the SBC’s competitiveness within the landscape of College Football as a whole.
Conference USA:
Conference USA (C-USA) experienced some turbulence with the departure of several member institutions. The most notable losses include Southern Miss, Marshall, and Old Dominion, who, as recently stated, transitioned to the SBC. These departures compelled C-USA to reevaluate its membership and explore avenues for expansion like adding teams, New Mexico State, Sam Houston, Jacksonville State, and Liberty. In losing some big names, C-USA was able to maintain its position as a prominent FBS conference.
Big 12 Conference:
The Big 12 Conference has undergone significant transformation, making headlines across the college football landscape. With the two key departures of Texas and Oklahoma, two longstanding powerhouses, to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the Big 12 found itself at a crossroads. In response, the conference pursued a proactive approach, inviting four new members: BYU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston. These additions will prove to strengthen the Big 12’s competitive profile along with its geographical footprint while opening new markets for the conference.
American Athletic Conference (AAC):
The AAC lost three key members including Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston, to the Big 12 Conference. While these departures are significant, the AAC remains a resilient force, adapting to the evolving landscape and adding members, Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, Rice, UAB, and UTSA. The conference continues to field competitive programs and actively explores expansion opportunities to further solidify its position as a top-tier FBS conference.
Bottom Line
Conference realignment is an ever-present reality in college football, and recent developments within the Sun Belt, Conference USA, Big 12, and AAC highlight the dynamic nature of the sport.
The Sun Belt Conference has capitalized on expansion to increase relevancy, while Conference USA navigates the challenges of membership changes by making some big moves themselves. The Big 12, despite losing key members, has fortified its ranks with multiple noteworthy additions, and the AAC remains resilient as it explores avenues for growth.
