College Sports: Big Changes Ahead

College sports are in a state of flux. The recent $2. 8 billion settlement has brought some stability, but it has also raised new questions about how to compensate athletes and manage teams. The landscape is shifting, with major conferences welcoming new programs and others losing long-standing members. The ACC, for example, is set to grow from 14 teams in 2023 to 17 in 2025. This expansion includes the addition of California and Stanford, which will bring new dynamics to the conference. The Big Ten is also expanding, adding Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington in 2025. This move is part of a broader trend of realignment, as schools look to strengthen their conferences and increase their revenue. The Pac-12, on the other hand, is facing significant changes. By 2026, the conference will have only two original members left: Oregon State and Washington State. The rest will have moved to other conferences or been replaced by new programs. This shift is part of a domino effect that has been triggered by the realignment of other conferences. The SEC is also expanding, adding Oklahoma and Texas in 2025. This move is significant because it brings two of the most storied programs in college football into the conference. The SEC is already one of the strongest conferences in the country, and these additions will only make it stronger. The American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, Big West/WAC/Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Independents are also undergoing changes. These conferences are adding and losing programs, which will have a significant impact on the competitive balance of college football. The changes in college sports are not just about the teams and conferences. They are also about the athletes. The $2. 8 billion settlement has brought a new set of questions about how to compensate athletes and manage rosters. These questions are complex and will require careful consideration and planning. The future of college sports is uncertain, but one thing is clear: the landscape is changing rapidly. Schools, conferences, and athletes will all need to adapt to these changes if they want to succeed in the new environment.