By: Myles Papponi
The only constant in life is change. This statement could not be more true for the upcoming NCAA football season. 15 Teams have changed their conference, including 10 from the Pac-12. The College Football Playoff has been expanded from four to 12 teams. In order to fill the new 12-team bracket, the conference champions that are ranked the highest will be seeded 1-4 and receive a first-round bye. Each of the remaining teams will be seeded 5-12 and have to play each other. Then the format will follow a normal bracket.
Before teams can be a part of this historic playoff bracket, they must dominate the regular season. This begins on August 24th. With college football knocking on the door, and everyone anxiously waiting to let it in. Here is a breakdown of each conference and their teams before the upcoming 2024-2025 season.
Mountain West
The Mountain West Conference will remain with the same 12 teams they had during the 2023-2024 season.
Mountain West 2024: University of New Mexico, Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawai’i, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, and Wyoming.
While the Mountain West Conference is not adding or losing any teams, they are still being impacted by the Conference realignment. The Pac-12 is now the “Pac-2” after all schools left to other conferences except 2, Oregon State and Washington State. The Beavers and the Cougars will play a combined 15 games against Mountain West Conference teams. Oregon State will play seven and Washington State will play eight games against Mountain West opponents. Washington State will make their way to the Land of Enchantment, when they play the Lobos at home on November 16th. The same day as UNM’s Senior and Hall of Honor game.
Some other big games for the Lobos are on August 31st at Arizona, which will be on ESPN. Then the following week they travel to Auburn. On September 28th, the Lobos make a short trip to Las Cruces to face the Aggies.
Pac-12/ “Pac-2”
All schools in the Pac-12 went to other conferences, excluding Oregon State and Washington State.
Pac-12 2023: Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, and Washington State.
Pac-2 2024: Oregon State, Washington State
Many are sad to see the Pac-12 practically gone, but with the teams transferring to other powerhouse conferences, college football will continue to be exhilarating to watch.
Conference USA
New Mexico State will play a new opponent this year. With the addition of Kennesaw State, Conference USA, now has 10 teams for the 2024-2025 season.
Conference USA 2023: New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP, Western Kentucky, and Florida International University.
Conference USA 2024: New Mexico State, Kennesaw State, Jacksonville State, Liberty, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Sam Houston, UTEP, Western Kentucky, and Florida International University.
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
The SEC, where college football reigns supreme. There is no doubt this conference has been at the top of college football since it was established in 1932. Winning 43 National Titles in football, with 13 since the year 2000.
What is hard to believe is that the Conference has now become even deeper with Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC, for a total of 16 teams in the Conference for the 2024-2025 season.
SEC 2023: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.
SEC 2024: Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and Vanderbilt.
Playoff predictors give an SEC team a 53% chance to win the National Title. The Georgia Bulldogs have the best percentage to win the title with a 21% chance. Alabama has the 7th best chance. Texas has the third best percentage and went to the College Football Playoff last season as the number three seed. Oklahoma is ranked 10th when it comes to their chances to win a national title. It is safe to say, at least for now, that the SEC’s newest additions will not hurt the credibility of the conference.
Many will be glued to their TVs when Georgia travels to Texas on October 19th. The state of Texas will prepare for Texas’s game against Texas A&M on November 30th.
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
The ACC has added Cal, SMU, and Stanford to bring their conference to a total of 17 teams.
ACC 2023: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest.
ACC 2024: Cal, SMU, Stanford, Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, NC State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest.
ACC teams are no longer located solely on the Atlantic coast. With their new additions, it now stretches from coast to coast, with a stop in Texas as the SMU Mustangs join the conference. The ACC has added some notable names. However, they do not hold the same cachet as the teams moving to the SEC, Big 10, or Big 12.
Big Ten
The Big Ten is now 18 schools with the additions of Oregon, USC, UCLA, and Washington.
Big Ten 2023: Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
Big Ten 2024: Oregon, USC, UCLA, Washington, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Rutgers, Wisconsin.
The Big Ten is arguably the best Conference behind the SEC when it comes to college football. The Big Ten has a 32% chance to win a National Title. The reigning champs, the Michigan Wolverines, have a 1.7% chance to win the National title which is 12th best. Still giving them a great chance to make the playoffs. Ohio State is 4th with a 10.5% chance to win the championship.
This stacked conference now has new additions that make it even more competitive. Oregon has the second-best chance to win the National Title behind Georgia. It will be must see TV when Oregon faces off against Ohio State on October 12th and Michigan on November 2nd.
Big 12
The Big 12 has a total of 16 teams for the 2024-2025 season after Oklahoma and Texas left, but Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah all joined the Big 12.
Big 12 2023: Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech, UCF, West Virginia.
Big 12 2024: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Utah, Baylor, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, TCU, Texas Tech, UCF, West Virginia.
It will be interesting to see many Southwest teams playing Midwest teams in the Big 12. Coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes will travel to Arizona on October 19th and Texas Tech on November 9th.
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
The AAC with still have 14 teams, after losing SMU, but adding Army for the upcoming season.
AAC 2023: Charlotte, East Carolina, FAU, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Rice, SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, USF, and UTSA.
AAC 2024: Army, Charlotte, East Carolina, FAU, Memphis, Navy, North Texas, Rice, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, USF, and UTSA.
The Mid-American Conference (MAC)
The MAC has no changes to their conference with the same 12 teams for the 2024-2025 season.
MAC 2024: Akron Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo, and Western Michigan.
Sun Belt
The Sun Belt also has no changes to their conference with the same 14 teams for their upcoming season.
Sun Belt 2024: Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, James Madison, Louisiana, Louisiana Monroe, Marshall, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Texas State, and Troy.
Like all change, the changes in college football may take some getting used to. However, the rewards that come from not fighting this change will be in an abundance. People will witness something they have never seen before. The competition level in conferences will be raised. The National Champion will no doubt be the best team in the country when they are crowned champion in January. Most of all, in the coming weeks, every Saturday will be filled with college football.