Conference Changes Ahead of 2026 College Football Season

As the 2026 college football season approaches, 22 teams have made changes to their conference affiliations. The Power 4 conferences remained unchanged, while five of the Group of Six leagues saw significant shifts.

Notable moves include Northern Illinois transitioning to the Mountain West and Sacramento State joining the Mid-American Conference. The Pac-12 has expanded to eight teams, adding Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Boise State from the Mountain West, while also welcoming Gonzaga for basketball.

In the Mountain West, North Dakota State, Northern Illinois, and UTEP have joined, replacing the teams that moved to the Pac-12. The MAC and Sun Belt also saw one-for-one trades, with Sacramento State and Louisiana Tech coming in, respectively. Meanwhile, Conference USA's membership has decreased from 12 to 10 teams, and the AAC remains stable with its current roster.