The next wave of 2026 college football realignment is now official. On Wednesday, July 1, this year’s conference changes formally took effect, and unlike the seismic 2024 shuffle, the Power Four leagues stood pat. All of the movement this time is a Group of Five story, headlined by the rebuilt Pac-12 and a chain of Mountain West, Conference USA, Sun Belt, and MAC moves, plus two programs jumping up from the FCS.
2026 Realignment: Quick Facts
Last updated: July 2, 2026.
- Effective date: July 1, 2026.
- Pac-12 rebuilds to eight: adds Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State (from the Mountain West) and Texas State (from the Sun Belt), joining holdovers Oregon State and Washington State.
- Mountain West (10): loses five to the Pac-12; adds North Dakota State (FCS), Northern Illinois (MAC), and UTEP (CUSA).
- Sun Belt: adds Louisiana Tech (from CUSA) to replace Texas State.
- MAC: adds Sacramento State (FCS) to replace Northern Illinois.
- Moving up to FBS: North Dakota State and Sacramento State.
- Power Four: no changes – the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC keep their 2025 lineups.
Every Team That Changed Conferences in 2026
| Team | 2025 Conference | 2026 Conference |
|---|---|---|
| Boise State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| Colorado State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| Fresno State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| San Diego State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| Utah State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| Texas State | Sun Belt | Pac-12 |
| Louisiana Tech | Conference USA | Sun Belt |
| UTEP | Conference USA | Mountain West |
| Northern Illinois | MAC | Mountain West |
| North Dakota State | FCS (Missouri Valley) | Mountain West (FBS) |
| Sacramento State | FCS (Big Sky) | MAC (FBS) |
The Pac-12 Rebuilds to Eight
The biggest change is the reconstituted Pac-12. After being reduced to just Oregon State and Washington State in the 2024 breakup, the conference adds six schools for 2026: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State from the Mountain West, plus Texas State from the Sun Belt. That gives the league an eight-team lineup: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State, and Washington State.
The Group of Five Dominoes
The Pac-12 raid set off a chain reaction. The Mountain West, down five teams, backfilled with UTEP from Conference USA, Northern Illinois from the MAC, and FCS power North Dakota State, settling at 10 members. Conference USA drops to 10 after losing UTEP and Louisiana Tech, who heads to the Sun Belt to replace Texas State. The MAC stays at 13 by adding Sacramento State, which moves up from the FCS along with North Dakota State. Those two are the only programs reclassifying to the FBS this cycle.
What Did Not Change: The Power Four
Unlike recent years, the Power Four conferences held steady for 2026. The ACC (17 teams), Big Ten (18), Big 12 (16), and SEC (16) all return the same lineups they carried in 2025. You can see each league’s full slate on our conference hubs below.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the 2026 college football realignment take effect?
The 2026 conference changes officially took effect on July 1, 2026, ahead of the coming season.
Which teams joined the Pac-12 for 2026?
Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State from the Mountain West, plus Texas State from the Sun Belt. They join Oregon State and Washington State to form an eight-team league.
Did any Power Four teams change conferences in 2026?
No. The ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC all kept their 2025 lineups. Every 2026 move involved the Pac-12 and Group of Five conferences.
Which teams moved up from the FCS to the FBS?
North Dakota State (to the Mountain West) and Sacramento State (to the MAC) both reclassified from the FCS to the FBS for 2026.
More 2026 College Football Coverage
- 2026 College Football Schedule: Printable PDF, TV Channels, and Key Matchups (Hub)
- 2026 SEC Football Schedule
- 2026 Big Ten Football Schedule
- 2026 Big 12 Football Schedule
- 2026 ACC Football Schedule
- 2026-27 College Football Bowl Schedule
- 2026-27 College Football Playoff Bracket and Schedule
Realignment details confirmed via FBSchedules.
