The Future of College Football Conferences: Is Realignment Here to Stay?

After the Pac-12 announced the additions of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State on Thursday, there is a lot of speculation about who could be next. Those four join holdovers Oregon State and Washington State in the new Pac-12. California and Stanford could potentially return to the new Pac-12.
The Pac-12 needs to have eight members by 2026 to comply with the NCAA. California and Stanford seem to be the ideal fit. Movement in the ACC could depend on the lawsuit by Clemson and Florida State against the conference. If Cal and Stanford leave and the ACC loses Clemson and Florida State there will be a lot of questions.
The addition of California, SMU and Stanford gave the ACC two of the biggest markets nationally in the Bay Area in California and the Dallas Metroplex. The Bay Area and Metroplex combined have nearly 16 million people. That doesn’t include other areas with large alumni bases from those schools like Los Angeles.
Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Pac-12 expansion will occur for the 2026-27 school year and that the conference landing a TV deal will not be a problem. The Pac-12 has until July 2026 to reach eight teams to be a full Football Bowl Subdivision conference. How they would fit in the College Football Playoff pairings is to be determined.
The College Football Playoff currently takes the top five ranked conference champions and seven at-large teams.
The new Pac-12 would likely be viewed of what would be the new group of six and the power four of the ACC, Big 10, Big XII and SEC. What happens with Clemson and Florida State will significantly impact the ACC.
Realignment is always in flux until the next conference makes a move. With the Pac-12 in need of two more teams and the ACC in the middle of the lawsuit by Clemson and Florida State, a lot will still be determined in the future. The SEC reportedly is not currently interested in Clemson or FSU and the Big 10 likely isn’t a great fit culturally.