College football as we know it has changed. In the wake of the biggest reshuffling of college football in the last decade-plus (and perhaps ever), the gears keep turning. Texas State leaves the Sun Belt in favor of the rebuilt Pac-12–which now features Boise State, Colorado State, and others–while Louisiana Tech ditches Conference USA for the Sun Belt Conference. All that and more below.
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2025 Conference Realignment
Missouri State To Become FBS’ 136th Member, Join Conference USA In 2025
On May 10, 2024, Conference USA announced the addition of the Missouri State Bears starting in 2025. Missouri State balances out CUSA, becoming its 12th member alongside Delaware. They’re the first school subject to the NCAA’s new $5 million fee to move up from FCS to FBS.
Over the last four seasons, the Bears are 22-22 and found themselves in the FCS playoffs twice.
Delaware To Join FBS, CUSA In 2025
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported in November, 2023, that Delaware would join the FBS ranks. The Hens will play in Conference USA beginning in 2025 and push FBS membership to 135. CUSA also added Kennesaw State in 2024. Total membership in 2025 becomes 10 with the departure of UTEP.
UMass Re-Joins MAC
After joining the FBS ranks in 2012, UMass spent four seasons in the MAC. There, the Minutemen compiled a 7-25 conference record (.280) before leaving the league for independence. After nine seasons, UMass returns to the MAC. During those nine years, it never won more than four games, losing 10+ games five times.
2026 & Beyond Conference Realignment
Pac-12 Revives Six New Members
The Pac-12, originally dead to rights, potentially saved its future by adding Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, and now Texas State, beginning in 2026. Gonzaga joins as a non-football member, bringing total membership to the required eight. Those six programs in football join Washington State and Oregon State as full-time members.
Rumors surrounding Memphis and Tulane fizzled as both schools reportedly shot down joining the league.
UTEP To Leave Conference USA, Join Mountain West
Looking to add two permanent members, the Mountain West added UTEP in October, 2024. The Miners will join the league in 2026. Geographically, the move makes sense, as does it for revenue purposes. While CUSA loses the Miners, it adds two new members in 2025, Delaware and Missouri State.
NIU Leaves The MAC In Favor Of Mountain West
Just after the turn of the year, Northern Illinois reportedly accepted an offer to join the Mountain West as a football-only member starting in 2026. NIU has history in western conferences, having played in the Big West from 1993-95. The school also left the MAC previously in 1985, opting for independence instead.
NIU’s addition brings the Mountain West to nine football members. Reportedly, this is the final expansion for the Mountain West (for now).
Louisiana Tech Heading To Sun Belt
In the wake of Texas State’s departure, Louisiana Tech will reportedly leave Conference USA and join the Sun Belt. Tech sits just 37 miles away from ULM and three hours north of Louisiana. The three will share a conference for the first time ever.
Conference USA reportedly will stick with its 10 members…for now.
Sacramento State Stuck In FCS Limbo
Despite a strong desire to join the FBS, the Division-I oversight committee denied Sacramento State’s application to the top ranks. Sac State left the Big Sky to play as an FCS independent and apparently will remain so for the near future. And in spite of the denial, Sac State leadership still believes the Hornets will be playing at the FBS level come 2026.