5 potential conference realignment moves that could change the landscape of college football in 2024 season 

The college athletics conference realignment landscape underwent significant changes in 2023. This is expected to continue in 2024 as the wave continues to get stronger.

Looking ahead to 2024, the college football landscape is poised for another year marked by significant changes. Here are five potential conference realignment moves that could change the landscape leading up to the 2024 college football season:

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Five conference realignment moves that could change the landscape in 2024

#1 Clemson and Florida State heading out

Clemson and Florida State have had the ambition to exit the Atlantic Coast Conference over the years. The two schools have now embarked on the process to leave the league.

The Tigers and the Seminoles are currently locked in legal battles with the conference in a bid to depart without paying the $130 million exit fee. Many analysts believe that both schools will eventually find their way out of the ACC and move to either the SEC or Big Ten.

#2 Virginia and North Carolina following suit

North Carolina and Virginia are attracting considerable attention from both the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten despite neither school actively seeking to depart the ACC.

This heightened interest is likely to prompt discussions between the conferences and the schools regarding the potential of switching allegiances amid the tumult within the ACC. Both conferences are eager to capitalize on the sizable markets of the two school’s locations.

#3 More ACC teams moving out to the Big 12

College football insider Greg Swaim reported in April that seven ACC schools have engaged in discussions with the Big 12 regarding the potential for realignment amid ongoing chaos.

These teams include Miami, Louisville, NC State and a host of others. That could potentially lead to an implosion for the ACC, following in the footsteps of the Pac-12. It remains unclear which ACC team the Big 12 will accept but the conference is open to further expansion.

#4 Pac-12 expansion gaining momentum

Despite being reduced to just two remaining members, the Pac-12 appears poised to thrive in the college athletics landscape. The league is anticipated to pursue expansion very soon, marking another phase of the ongoing conference realignment waves.

Numerous schools from the Group of Five conferences are expected to lobby for considerations in their quest to achieve Power Five status. The league is projected to primarily assess teams from the Mountain West Conference and the American Athletic Conference.

#5 Group of Five leagues luring more FCS teams

A host of Football Championship Subdivision teams has in the last couple of years moved to the Football Bowl Subdivision. This conference realignment trend is expected to continue in 2024.

With a Pac-12 expansion on the cards and a possibility of ACC expansion, after a couple of teams make their way out, the Group of Five leagues are expected to lose some members. That would, in turn, see the G5 leagues opt for teams in the FCS to fill up their membership.