College sports in the United States have witnessed numerous schools changing conference affiliations over the past century. This trend has notably accelerated in the last three decades and particularly in the last two years. It is becoming increasingly common for well-established programs to depart from their traditional conference homes in search of enhanced stability and revenue in the competitive landscape of college athletics.
In July and August, twelve schools officially altered their affiliations, reshuffling the compositions of all major conferences and leaving the Pac-12 with only two teams. The evolution of football membership in the Power Four and the Group of Five conferences can be traced back to the introduction of the Big 12 in 1996.
The ACC conference expanded from 9 teams in 1996 to 14 teams in 2023 and further to 17 teams in 2024, witnessing significant changes in membership over the years. The Big Ten conference also experienced shifts, growing from 11 teams in 1996 to 18 teams in 2024, reflecting substantial adjustments in its composition.
Similarly, the Big 12 conference saw modifications in its lineup, expanding from 12 teams in 1996 to 14 teams in 2023 and eventually to 16 teams in 2024. The Pac-12 conference, while starting with 10 teams in 1996, underwent changes, with the number of teams decreasing to 2 in 2024.
The SEC conference, which comprised 12 teams in 1996, saw an increase in membership to 16 teams by 2024. Additionally, the American Athletic conference, which began with 10 teams in its first season in 2013, grew to 14 teams in 2023 and maintained that number in 2024.
Conference USA, which initially had 6 teams in 1996, expanded its membership to 10 teams in 2024 and further to 11 teams in 2025. The Mid-American conference, which began with 10 teams in 1996, saw growth to 13 teams by 2025.
Furthermore, the Big West/WAC/Mountain West conference, which originally had separate divisions in 1996, evolved to a consolidated group of 12 teams in the Mountain West conference by 2024. The Sun Belt conference, which debuted with 7 teams in 2001, expanded its lineup to 14 teams by 2024.
Lastly, independent teams, which totaled 11 in 1996, decreased to 4 teams in 2023 and further to 2 teams by 2025, showcasing a shift in the landscape of college sports affiliations.
Overall, the changing dynamics of conference affiliations in college sports in the United States highlight the ongoing evolution and transformation of the collegiate athletic landscape.