Massive conference realignments occurred this summer that rumbled through the sports world. The SEC and Big Ten established themselves as the top two conferences and the Power 5 became the Power 4. So, four weeks into the year, here’s an update on the never-ending drama surrounding collegiate conferences.
Big Ten:
The Big Ten probably endured the biggest upgrades over the summer, as it brought in four Power 5 programs. Each school received a football ranking at one point in 2023 as the conference tried to catch the dominant SEC.
Through three weeks of football, the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington have done just that. Seven Big Ten programs received rankings in week four, and four made the top 11. The powerhouse No. 9 Ducks and No. 11 Trojans have picked up right where they left off, combining for a 5-0 record.
While the SEC remains slightly ahead, the additions have placed the Big Ten firmly ahead of the rest. There are now two conferences in the country for football, and they will likely dominate the College Football Playoff.
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SEC:
The rich got, well — richer. Oklahoma and Texas have always been SEC teams at heart, and they aren’t taking the opportunity for granted.
The former Big 12 members have combined for a 6-0 record, slaughtering opponents by a 240-53 combined margin. Neither program has had a cupcake schedule either, with No. 18 Michigan, Houston and Tulane crossing their paths. The Longhorns are No. 1 in the country, and the Sooners come in at No. 15.
As if the new schools weren’t good enough, the SEC holds six of the top seven rankings. No. 2 Georgia and No. 4 Alabama look as good as ever, while No. 5 Ole Miss and No. 6 Tennessee continue to impress.
There’s probably room for a couple more schools to join the SEC in the next couple of years, but they are solid for now. They’ll have their pick of the crop for sure, but more expansion makes sense. The Big Ten and ACC both span from coast to coast now, meaning the big, bad SEC will surely take advantage of the opportunity and continue building their super conference.
ACC:
There wasn’t much left for the ACC to add as the other conferences took most of the desirable universities in the free agent pool. Still, I don’t think the conference is too upset right now.
The main story is Clemson and Florida State. Both schools tried to make the ACC look weak and explored their options to leave. However, the contracts are skintight. The Tigers and Noles broadcast their frustrations to anyone who would listen but aren’t backing it up. They are a combined 2-4 to start the football season and don’t look like they’ll be getting any offers to leave anytime soon.
In terms of additions, SMU has been fine, and Cal is the surprise of college football. A 3-0 start with a road win at Auburn to highlight the schedule is making the addition look great so far. The Golden Bears have also aced the basketball transfer portal in consecutive years, anticipating joining the best conference of this century.
Just three teams are ranked right now, but five more received votes. Eight teams receiving votes are good for third in the country, and they’ll be satisfied with that.
Big 12:
The beginning of football season hasn’t gone quite as planned yet for the Big 12. Colorado is terrible again, and the old Jalon Daniels is long gone. Kansas and Arizona both dropped from the rankings quickly, and West Virginia was not the surprise team that many had hoped.
There are a couple of solid programs up top, with No. 12 Utah and Arizona State off to fantastic starts. No. 13 Kansas State and No. 14 Oklahoma State are becoming consistent programs in the AP Poll as well.
It’s a wide-open conference with the Longhorns and Sooners gone. While nobody has asserted themselves as a national contender, this conference was built for basketball. Let’s patiently wait until November to see what the additions bring to likely the strongest basketball league in 2024-25.
Pac 12:
So, the Pac-12 isn’t going extinct? Pac-12 lovers everywhere rejoiced when Washington State and Oregon State stayed in the “Pac 2” for the upcoming year. After months of discourse, staying put will keep the conference alive.
The conference has officially extended applications to Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State. With the Pac-12 up to six schools, rumors are swirling around the American Athletic Conference. Memphis and Tulane are two additional attractive programs to add.
The history and tradition of the Pac-12 will live on.
@benfader7
