College football never really sits still, does it? Conference realignment is back in the headlines for 2026, shaking up the landscape and tossing out some of those old rivalries fans grew up with.
This year’s changes are big—schools are jumping ship, finding new homes, and leaving behind familiar conference foes. The Pac-12, Mountain West, and a couple of others are right in the middle of the mess, and honestly, the list of FBS independents is getting pretty thin. If you want the full rundown, The Observer has a detailed article on all this.
The Decline of FBS Independents
FBS independents used to be a bigger club, but that’s not the case anymore. BYU, Liberty, and New Mexico State packed their bags for conferences in 2023—BYU to the Big 12, Liberty and New Mexico State to Conference USA.
Army followed suit, joining the American Athletic Conference in 2024. UMass ended its solo run in 2025, joining the MAC, so now it’s just Notre Dame and UConn left holding the independent banner.
Notre Dame’s Stance on Independence
Notre Dame’s independence is practically legendary at this point. Some folks love it, some roll their eyes—takes all sorts, I guess.
They did a one-year stint in the ACC during the COVID-19 season in 2020, but then went right back to being independent. The CFP committee’s recent snub of Notre Dame for postseason play has only made the debate louder, and let’s just say it’s a touchy subject for Irish fans. Still, Notre Dame isn’t budging on independence, at least for now.
The Pac-12’s Resurrection
The Pac-12 almost vanished in 2024. It was wild—UCLA, USC, Oregon, and Washington all bolted for the Big Ten, and then Stanford and Cal joined the ACC.
Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Arizona State ran off to the Big 12, leaving Oregon State and Washington State looking pretty lonely.
New Additions to the Pac-12
Somehow, the Pac-12 pulled off a comeback. They’re back up to nine members, with eight playing football. The new football schools coming in are:
- Boise State (from the Mountain West)
- Colorado State (from the Mountain West)
- Fresno State (from the Mountain West)
- San Diego State (from the Mountain West)
- Utah State (from the Mountain West)
- Texas State (from Conference USA)
And then there’s Gonzaga, which is joining too, but they haven’t played football since, what, 1941? Pretty sure that’s not changing anytime soon.
Mountain West’s Strategic Moves
The Mountain West got hit hard, losing five schools to the Pac-12. That left them scrambling, with only six football teams and seven members total.
They had to get creative—no way around it.
New Members in the Mountain West
First, they added UTEP from Conference USA and Northern Illinois from the MAC, bumping up to eight football teams. But they didn’t stop there—they started looking at FCS schools to fill the gaps.
It’s actually been a trend lately. James Madison jumped to the Sun Belt in 2022, then Jacksonville State and Sam Houston State went to Conference USA in 2023.
Kennesaw State joined CUSA in 2024, and Delaware and Missouri State followed in 2025. Seems like everyone’s moving up if they can swing it.
North Dakota State’s FBS Leap
On February 9, 2026, North Dakota State finally made the leap. They’re joining the Mountain West as a football-only member.
The Bison have been an FCS powerhouse, winning ten national titles since 2010, and they just grabbed another in 2024. They want in on the CFP action right away, though the current rules say new FBS teams have to wait two years for the postseason—maybe that’ll change?
Sacramento State Joins the MAC
Not long after, Sacramento State got the call—they’re joining the MAC as a football-only member, announced on February 14, 2026.
The Hornets have been pretty solid in the FCS, winning the Big Sky in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Who knows what they’ll do in the MAC, but it’s definitely something to watch.
The Future of College Football
Conference changes are shaking up college football in ways nobody really saw coming. Schools are making moves, chasing prestige and, let’s be honest, bigger paydays.
The idea of teams staying independent? That’s starting to look like a thing of the past.
Fans and analysts are glued to the drama, waiting to see what all these changes will mean for the sport.
If you want the full scoop, check out the article on The Observer.
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