The college sports world has been scrambling over the past few years as most of the Pac-12 teams decided to leave the conference. While several factors are at play, money and media deals have been key among them.
That’s created myriad domino effects, one of them being several teams leaving other conferences to join the Pac-12. Thus, the Group of Five became the Group of Six. But there’s been even more conference realignment, expansion, and rumors since then. Here’s a look at what has happened in the college football landscape and how it has impacted the G6 in 2026 and beyond:
CFP Expansion Rumors
The College Football Playoff has already expanded within the last few years. But discussions about further expansion are continuing.
A 24-team playoff is being openly discussed by all sorts of decision-makers in the sport.
The CFP expanded to 12 teams beginning in 2024. The current structure includes first-round games on campus sites, while the quarterfinals and semifinals feature traditional bowl games.
However, as leaders in the sport seek new ways to make money, that format may not last long.
The American Football Coaches Association has voted to support expanding the CFP to as many as 24 teams. Therefore, it also supports the nixing of conference championships.
The Big Ten has pushed for 24-team models. But the SEC has wanted fewer teams, like 16, in hopes of preserving conference title games. That stalemate is a big reason why the field hasn’t expanded further. The field won’t change until they agree on this.
UConn To The Pac-12?
The Pac-12 is continuing to explore opportunities to expand, and UConn has been regarded as a potential target for Group of Six conferences because, in part, it’s an independent and it would be a more straightforward addition than, say, Louisiana Tech going to the Sun Belt.
UConn might want a conference home, and the Pac-12 could use another member. But travel costs could be a factor, and it would likely be for football only as UConn probably won’t want to leave the Big East in basketball.
There’s plenty to consider for a move like this.
Louisiana Tech Leaves Conference USA For The Sun Belt
Louisiana Tech will be playing in the Sun Belt this season – despite the Bulldogs being slated for 20 games at one point.
Conference USA released a statement in April that it “reached a positive resolution with Louisiana Tech that fully acknowledges our governing documents. We look forward to continued success and impact in the national landscape, driven by the collective strength and shared vision of our 10 member institutions.”
Louisiana Tech is reportedly paying CUSA an exit fee of more than $8 million to go to the Sun Belt.
Earlier this year, both the Sun Belt and CUSA released schedules that included LA Tech on them, so the Bulldogs were slated for 20 games – which of course was never going to happen.
Sacramento State Jumps To The FBS With MAC Invite
Sacramento State’s intentions of moving up to the FBS were no secret.
The Hornets filed an application last year to transition to the FBS as an independent program with the NCAA. The school had dedicated plenty of financial resources to become ready for a move like this.
But the NCAA Division I Council voted against granting Sac State’s waiver. That was in large part because the school didn’t have an invite from a conference.
But the Hornets will be playing in the FBS after all this year, as they received and accepted an invite to become a football-only member of the MAC as part of a five-year deal. But it won’t be cheap.
Sacramento State will pay the most money a team ever has to move up to the FBS. Sac State will pay more than $23 million to become a member of the MAC and FBS, and it’ll likely be closer to $25-27 million.
The Hornets are reportedly paying the MAC $18 million to join the league, with $6 million due in Year 1. And then there’s the FCS-to-FBS entry fee of $5 million that goes to the NCAA.
Sac State also agreed to cover travel for visiting conference programs for five years, which is estimated to cost $2-4 million.
The program also won’t accept conference distribution during that five-year period.
NDSU Joins FBS Ranks With Mountain West Invite
The Mountain West announced it was officially adding North Dakota State as a football-only member in 2026.
Going to the Mountain West makes plenty of sense for North Dakota State, and it has for a long time. It’s a development NDSU fans have been hopeful for.
The Bison have been dominant on the field at the FCS level for over a decade. They’ve won 10 national championships going back to 2011.
NDSU has also financially invested in football. The team opened a $54 million performance complex in the last few years.
NDSU would fit in the Mountain West from a skill-level perspective and a geographical perspective for the most part. It’s not the eastern-most team (Northern Illinois) or the western-most team (Hawaii) in the league. It’s by far one of the FBS conferences that makes the most sense for the Bison from a travel perspective.
And because of NDSU’s success in the FCS and it’s history of upsetting FBS teams and producing NFL talent, some believe the Bison could be competitive in the league instantly.
One of the main reasons why NDSU hasn’t jumped to the FBS sooner or gotten a conference invite is beyond football. Based in Fargo, North Dakota, NDSU isn’t necessarily in the most appealing media market.
North Dakota State reportedly has to pay about $17 million to move up to the FBS and join the Mountain West.
The Division I Council increased the fee to jump up to the FBS from the FCS from $5,000 to $5 million in 2023. And ESPN reported NDSU’s entrance fee to the Mountain West will be close to $12 million.
Due to NCAA rules for teams transitioning from the FCS, NDSU wouldn’t be eligible for postseason play like the MW Championship or a bowl game until 2028. That is, unless those rules change, which could happen.
Texas State Joining The Pac-12
Texas State became the Pac-12’s eighth full-time member.
Texas State had long been rumored to be a candidate for Pac-12 expansion. It gives the conference a foothold in the Lone Star State, for starters.
It’s also a solid university by several metrics, and the football team has shown growth in the past couple years. In the three seasons that GJ Kinne has been the head coach, the Bobcats have gone 23-16, ending all three of those years with bowl wins.
Northern Illinois-Mountain West Move
Northern Illinois leaders voted to accept an invitation from the Mountain West last year. That means NIU will leave the MAC.
The ultimate question, as has been the case with basically all conference realignment, has been if moving to a new conference would lead to more money. Going to the Mountain West, the Huskies are likely aiming to make more than they would be by simply staying in the MAC.
Travel has to be considered as well. Currently, the MAC is one of the most logical conferences in the FBS in terms of geography. Within the past couple years, we’ve seen Washington and Oregon go to the Big Ten as well as Stanford and Cal go to the ACC.
While moving to the Mountain West might put NIU in a more competitive league that could arguably bring the program more notoriety, it would also put the football team in the same conference as teams like Hawaii, San Jose State, and UTEP.
It makes sense for the Mountain West, though. The league would span four time zones and it would be picking up a competitive football program. The Huskies have made 13 bowl games since 2008 and has won five MAC titles since 2011.
The Mountain West was also thinking about adding Toledo, but the Rockets’ interest waned.
Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, Utah State & San Diego State Joining The Pac-12
Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State, and San Diego State have announced they are going to the Pac-12, beginning during the 2026 season.
Those moves created a ripple effect for the rest of the FBS. The Mountain West lost some of its top teams and began searching for candidates to boost its numbers back up.
The Pac-12 is no longer an autonomous league, meaning it had more influence in regards to NCAA decisions and received more money from the College Football Playoff.
UTEP To The Mountain West
The Mountain West announced the league is bringing in UTEP, which was a member of Conference USA and was believed by some to be a potential target for the Pac-12.
UTEP is joining a conference that’s stronger in terms of on-the-field performance.
And that’s not including the five teams which will be members of the Pac-12 in two years. For example, Air Force and UNLV reached the AP Top 25 within the past three seasons.
There’s also familiarity with the Miners and the other current Mountain West teams, as UTEP played against all of those programs while in the Western Athletic Conference.
UTEP will become a member of the Mountain West on July 1, 2026. The Miners’ football team will begin Mountain West play during the 2026 season.
Hawaii also announced it will become a full-time Mountain West member in 2026.
