Conference Realignment

Penn State ends 107 years as an independent, joining the Big Ten and expanding the conference to 11 members.

Arkansas leaves the SWC for the Southeastern Conference, beginning the SEC's expansion era.

South Carolina leaves the Metro Conference/independence for the SEC.

Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, and Texas Tech join the Big Eight, forming the Big 12 Conference.

The Big 12 Conference plays its first season, immediately becoming a power conference.

The Hurricanes and Hokies depart for the ACC, beginning the erosion of the Big East as a football power.

BC follows Miami and VT to the ACC, completing the conference's initial raid on the Big East.

Nebraska shocks the Big 12 by leaving for the Big Ten, beginning the modern era of super-conference realignment.

Colorado joins the Pac-10, helping expand it to the Pac-12.

Utah makes the jump from the Mountain West to the Pac-12.

The Aggies break from longtime rivals Texas and head to the SEC, fundamentally reshaping the conference landscape.

Mizzou follows Texas A&M, giving the SEC its 14th member.

WVU leaves the Big East for the Big 12, crossing geographic norms.

TCU completes its rise from C-USA to Mountain West to Big 12.

The "Catholic 7" split off; remaining football schools rebrand as the American Athletic Conference.

Louisville leaves the AAC for the ACC after just one season in the new league.

The Big Ten expands to the East Coast, adding Rutgers and Maryland for media market expansion.

The seismic announcement: the two biggest brands in the Big 12 announce they will join the SEC, fundamentally altering the power balance of college sports.

The Big Ten reaches across the continent, adding USC and UCLA from the Pac-12 in a blockbuster move.

Colorado leaves the Pac-12 and returns to the Big 12, reuniting with old conference foes.

Arizona and Arizona State leave the Pac-12 for the Big 12.

Utah joins the Big 12 exodus from the Pac-12.

After years of anticipation, the Longhorns and Sooners officially compete in the SEC, creating a 16-team mega-conference.

Oregon and Washington complete the Big Ten's expansion to 18 teams, spanning coast to coast.

The Pac-12 is left with only Oregon State and Washington State after mass departures, ending a 109-year era.

California and Stanford make the surprising cross-country move to the ACC.

SMU jumps from the AAC to the ACC in a surprise addition.

Oregon State and Washington State begin rebuilding the Pac-12 by adding Mountain West and other programs for a 2026 relaunch.