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 shakeups in 2023. Oregon and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are heading to the Big 12. On Friday, the ACC added Cal, Stanford and SMU. Television, the 12-team College Football Playoff, NIL and the transfer portal have changed roster management.
Army became the latest team to move. The Black Knights announced they are headed to the American Athletic Conference on Wednesday.
Sporting News gets your preemptively ready for 2024. Which teams are in those 10 conferences? How many independents are left? How many conference games? Which conferences have divisions? It’s all covered in here (for now).
Here is a look at how college football will look in 2024:
MORE: What 12-team CFP will look like in 2024
How many schools are in the FBS in 2024
A total of 134 schools will compete in the FBS in 2024-25. Sam Houston and Jacksonville State make the jump from the FCS in 2023, and Kennesaw State will join the FBS in 2024.
Which schools compete in the Power 5?
A total of 69 schools will compete in Power 5 conferences in 2024, though the future of the Pac-12 is in doubt. A look at the makeup of those conferences:
ACC
| Boston College | NC State |
| Cal | Pitt |
| Clemson | SMU |
| Duke | Stanford |
| Florida State | Syracuse |
| Georgia Tech | Virginia |
| Louisville | Virginia Tech |
| Miami | Wake 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 arrangement with the conference.
Who's in? Who's out?
The ACC has added three teams and has a television deal that 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 Tech |
| 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's 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, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are joining the Big 12 in 2024.
Conference details
The Big 12 will not have 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 | Ohio State |
| Illinois | Oregon |
| Iowa | Penn State |
| Maryland | Purdue |
| Michigan | Rutgers |
| Michigan State | UCLA |
| Minnesota | USC |
| Nebraska | Wisconsin |
| Northwestern | Washington |
How many teams?
The Big Ten will have 18 teams in 2024-25.
Who's in? Who's out?
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten.
Conference details
The Big Ten will not have divisions in 2024. The conference will continue to play nine Big Ten games. The top two teams will meet in the Big Ten championship game.
Pac-12
| Oregon State | Washington State |
How many teams?
As of 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's out?
Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington are headed to the Big Ten. Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah are heading to the Big 12. Cal and Stanford are going to the ACC.
Conference details
The Pac-12 moved away from divisions in 2022. The top two teams will play in the Pac-12 championship game in 2023.
SEC
| Alabama | Missouri |
| Arkansas | Oklahoma |
| Auburn | Ole Miss |
| Florida | South Carolina |
| 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's out?
Oklahoma and Texas are joining the conference next season.
Conference details
The SEC will not have divisions in 2024. Teams will play eight conference games. The top two teams will meet in the SEC championship game in Atlanta.
Independents
| Notre Dame |
| UConn |
| UMass |
How many teams?
There are three independents left in college football. Notre Dame remains independent in 2024, but the Irish do have a five-game arrangement with the ACC that will continue.
Who's in? Who's out?
BYU, Liberty and New Mexico State joined conferences in 2023. Army will join the American Athletic Conference in 2024.
Group of 5
A total of 62 schools will compete in the Group of 5 in 2024. A look at the makeup of those conferences:
American Athletic Conference
| Army | Rice |
| Charlotte | South Florida |
| East Carolina | Temple |
| FAU | Tulane |
| Memphis | Tulsa |
| Navy | 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's 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 schools from Conference-USA 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 play in the AAC championship game.
Conference USA
| FIU | New Mexico State |
| Jacksonville State | Sam Houston |
| Liberty | UTEP |
| Louisiana Tech | Western Kentucky |
| Middle Tennessee | Kennesaw State |
How many teams?
Conference USA will have 10 teams in 2024.
Who's in? Who's out?
Kennesaw State is joining 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. Delaware and Missouri State will join the conference in 2025.
Conference details
Conference USA does not have divisions. Teams play eight conference games, and the top two teams will meet in the conference championship game.
MAC
| East | West |
| Akron | Ball State |
| 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's out?
The 12 schools in the MAC have been together since 1998. UMass will join the MAC in 2025.
Conference details
The MAC will continue its eight-game conference schedule, and the East and West division winners will play in the conference championship game.
Mountain West Conference
| Air Force | New Mexico |
| Boise State | San Diego State |
| Colorado State | San Jose State |
| Fresno State | UNLV |
| Hawaii | Utah State |
| Nevada | Wyoming |
How many teams?
The Mountain West will have 12 teams in 2024.
Who's in? Who's out?
San Diego State left a note that it intended to resign from the MWC then reaffirmed its membership on July 3. The Aztecs are still in the conference.
Conference details
The Mountain West Conference eliminated divisions in 2023, and teams play eight conference games. The top two teams meet in the conference championship game.
Sun Belt
| East | West |
| Appalachian State | Arkansas State |
| Coastal Carolina | Louisiana |
| Georgia Southern | UL-Monroe |
| Georgia State | South Alabama |
| James Madison | Southern Miss |
| Marshall | Texas State |
| Old Dominion | Troy |
How many teams?
The Sun Belt will have 14 schools in the 2024-25 season.
Who's in? Who's 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 at the higher seed’s campus.
