What NCAA football conferences have a championship game?

The NCAA Football Conferences are crucial in the organization and competition of college football across the United States. These conferences structure the regular season and lead to conference championships, culminating in the national championship. The NCAA oversees the different divisions, with Division I being the most prominent.

These games impact the College Football Playoff (CFP) selection process. While not all conferences host a championship game, many have embraced this format to showcase their top teams in a high-stakes matchup.

NCAA Football Conference with Championship Games

NCAA football has evolved over the years, with the introduction of conference championship games adding a new layer of competition. Nine active FBS conferences host these championship games. The tradition began with the 1992 SEC Championship Game, where Alabama triumphed over Florida in the first-ever post-regular season conference championship game played in Division I-A football, now known as Division I FBS. The concept gained momentum, with the Big 12 Conference and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) launching their championship games in 1996.

Initially, the NCAA required conferences to have a minimum of 12 teams and to be divided into two divisions to hold a championship game that did not count against the limit of 12 regular-season games per team. This requirement led the Big 12 to discontinue its championship game after the 2010 season due to the conference contracting to 10 members in 2011. However, before the 2016 season, these restrictions were lifted, allowing more flexibility for conferences to organize their championship games.

Here is the list of NCAA football conferences with championship games:

Discontinued Football Conference Games

These championship games had their respective runs but were eventually discontinued due to various reasons, such as conference realignments and changes in the overall structure of college football conferences.

Qualification for College Football Conference Championship

Beginning in the 2024-25 season, the structure of college football conference championships underwent a transformation. The top five ranked conference champions now receive automatic bids to the College Football Playoff (CFP). Among these, the top four ranked conference champions earn the second round, providing a strategic advantage in the playoff race.

Since every conference champion is now determined through a championship game, these games act as unofficial playoff qualification matches. This new structure has an impact on teams in the Power 4 conferences, as the significance of winning the conference championship has increased.