Does the Pac-12 still exist? Taking a closer look at 5+7 conference model for 2024 college football season

The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference in the United States. Its members reside in various states around the Country.

Does Pac-12 still exist?

Yes, the Pac-12 still exists at this time, even though 10 of the current 12 members will exit on August 2, 2024.

The Pac-12 conference will remain in operation as a two-program conference until at least the 2024–25 academic year. Hence, Oregon State University and Washington State University will continue the new Pac-12 when the exodus occurs.

Oregon State University was founded in 1868 and joined the Pac-12 conference in 1915. The Beavers have remained a Pac-12 conference program since.

Washington State University is the other Pac-12 conference program that'll remain in the conference for the upcoming collegiate season. The program was founded in 1890 and joined the conference in 1917. The Cougars are one of the conference's most popular programs, and they have succeeded in various sports.

The 5+7 conference model for the 2024 college football season

The college football decision-makers have heard the chatter, and the CFB finally has a new format. This comes after persistent pressure from teams, players, and fans about a potential revamp of the old system.

According to Bleacher Report, CFP leaders have made a change to the 12-team expanded playoff model. The new format will use a "5+7" system, incorporating five automatic qualifying spots for the highest-ranked conference champs and seven at-large slots for the next highest-ranked programs. Initially, a "6+6" model was suggested, but the recent Pac-12 exodus put that plan to rest. The "5+7" proposal reportedly received 11-0 support from the voting members of the decision-making committee.

The expanded postseason will begin next season. In the new format, the four best-ranked conference champs earn a bye into the quarterfinals, which, like the semifinals, are played at a rotation of six bowl locations.

Furthermore, three of the four quarterfinals will be played on New Year's Day, while the other quarterfinal matchup will happen on New Year's Eve. The semifinals will be played on a midweek day currently slated for Jan. 9-10 (Thursday and Friday) to avoid the NFL’s wild-card weekend, which begins on that week's Saturday.

Finally, the 2024 CFB game will occur on Jan. 20, 2025.