NCAA College Football Re-Alignment Frenzy!

Last week, the Big Ten added two big-time members and a big-time market. The Big Ten added USC and UCLA to the conference as soon as 2024. Adding UCLA and USC to the Big Ten has caused panic in college football. Seeing that, Texas and Oklahoma are off to the SEC, leaving the Big 12 and PAC-12 out to dry. Over ten schools have been in contact with the Big Ten about potential membership.

As well, we have seen Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah actively trying to join the Big 12. Which would leave the PAC-12 with only four active members. Stanford, Oregon, Washington, and Oregon State. Stanford seems most fit to join the Big Ten, followed by Oregon, and Washington.

Although there is one major domino remaining, the biggest piece of all. The independent, Notre Dame. The Big Ten won't be expanding past UCLA and USC unless Notre Dame comes along. Every conference in America is actively recruiting Notre Dame, with the leaders being the Big Ten and the ACC due to their previous scheduling agreement.

If Notre Dame is added to the Big Ten, they will then have 17 members and would be seeking to add another. Number 18 would most likely be Stanford joining similarly to the same reasons Notre Dame would be joining the Big Ten. The academics, prestige, and integrity of the conference. Both would be grand-slam additions, furthering the Big Ten's reach while also adding one of the most storied programs in all of college football.

Imagine a college football landscape with the Big Ten having Michigan, Ohio State, USC, and Notre Dame, with the SEC having Alabama, LSU, Texas, and Oklahoma. College athletics, and especially college football, changing forever.

For the better? Who knows, but definitely will be full of storylines. As media deals soar over Billions of dollars and NIL Deals dominate the recruiting landscape, we have entered a new era of collegiate athletics, especially college football.