College football is undergoing a seismic shift, with changes in conference realignments, media rights, and playoff formats reshaping the landscape. What used to be a regional sport dominated by traditional rivalries is evolving into a nationwide spectacle driven by economic incentives and broadcasting deals. As we look to the future, college football conferences are at the heart of this transformation. But what will the future hold for these storied institutions, and how will changes affect the game?
The Current State of Conferences
Today’s major conferences—SEC (Southeastern Conference), Big Ten, ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference), Pac-12, and Big 12—are part of the Power Five, the most prominent group in college football. These conferences boast the richest TV deals, the most elite talent, and a history of intense rivalries. However, recent years have seen increasing instability.
Conference realignment has been a hot topic, with schools switching affiliations to secure more lucrative broadcasting contracts. For instance, Oklahoma and Texas announced their move from the Big 12 to the SEC in 2025, shaking the foundations of college football’s traditional structure. Similarly, USC and UCLA are set to leave the Pac-12 for the Big Ten in 2024, signaling an era of super-conferences.
At the same time, Group of Five conferences (such as the American Athletic Conference and Mountain West) struggle to keep pace with the financial juggernaut of the Power Five. This has led to growing concerns about the widening gap between college football’s elite and everyone else.
The Rise of Super-Conferences
The idea of super-conferences, where a handful of massive conferences dominate the landscape, seems inevitable. The SEC and Big Ten are already positioning themselves as the powerhouses, each expanding to 16 teams by 2025. With their lucrative television contracts and expansion plans, these conferences are poised to monopolize college football’s most prestigious programs.
Super-conferences could eventually dictate everything from playoff participation to regular-season scheduling. As more teams join the SEC and Big Ten, other conferences may struggle to retain relevance, especially in terms of revenue and recruiting power. This could lead to an even more top-heavy sport, where the wealthiest programs are continuously battling each other for supremacy.
The shift toward super-conferences is being driven largely by money. Broadcasting contracts, especially with networks like ESPN, FOX, and CBS, have skyrocketed in value. In a world where live sports are one of the few reliable revenue streams for broadcasters, college football is a prime commodity. Super-conferences will likely command even larger deals, leaving smaller conferences with dwindling financial resources.
Playoff Expansion and Its Impact
In response to growing pressure from fans and schools, the College Football Playoff (CFP) is expanding from four teams to twelve teams, with the new format set to debut in 2024. This expansion will give more teams an opportunity to compete for a national title, offering Group of Five schools and teams outside the powerhouses a shot at glory.
The expanded playoff system may slow the march toward super-conferences, as more teams from various conferences will have a legitimate chance to compete for championships. This could help keep schools in smaller conferences relevant, as long as they can maintain their level of competition.
However, as super-conferences grow, the playoff landscape could tilt toward these powerhouses, with more teams from the SEC and Big Ten likely to dominate playoff spots. While this might increase the overall level of competition, it could also sideline teams from smaller conferences, making it harder for them to remain competitive on the national stage.
Media Rights and Streaming
Media rights deals are a driving force behind conference realignment and expansion. In the coming years, the competition for rights among traditional TV networks and streaming services will only intensify. While college football has long been a staple of traditional television, streaming services like Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ are beginning to invest in live sports. The NFL has already shifted some of its coverage to streaming, and college football could follow.
This shift toward streaming could reshape conference media deals and viewership. In the future, fans may need to subscribe to multiple platforms to watch games, changing how college football is consumed. Conferences that adapt to the new media landscape quickly will have the upper hand in negotiating deals and expanding their reach.
NIL and Player Movement
Another major factor in the future of college football conferences is the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for athletes. With players now able to profit from their brand, schools with greater financial resources and stronger media footprints will likely become even more attractive to top recruits. This could further concentrate talent in the largest, wealthiest conferences.
In addition, the ease of transferring between schools due to the transfer portal could exacerbate the power imbalance. Players can now leave schools more freely, and many are flocking to Power Five programs where NIL opportunities and exposure are better. As a result, smaller programs may struggle to retain top talent.
Conference Sustainability
Not all conferences will be able to survive in this rapidly changing landscape. The Pac-12, for example, has been significantly weakened by the departures of USC and UCLA. Other conferences may face similar challenges, particularly as media rights deals increasingly favor the largest and wealthiest leagues.
Some conferences may merge or form alliances to stay competitive. There’s already been discussion of inter-conference scheduling agreements to maintain relevance in the new world of super-conferences. The ACC, for instance, may consider partnerships or expansions to stay afloat in the face of SEC and Big Ten dominance.
Conclusion
The future of college football conferences will be defined by money, media, and expansion. Super-conferences like the SEC and Big Ten are poised to dominate, potentially sidelining smaller leagues. While an expanded playoff and new media opportunities may offer some balance, the consolidation of power in college football’s biggest conferences seems inevitable. As the sport evolves, so too will its conferences, with tradition making way for a more economically driven structure.
