Conference realignment tracker: All the moves coming in 2026-27
Last updated: Sept. 1, 2026
While things have settled somewhat, the wheels of conference realignment keep on turning.
If you lost track of all the changes that will be coming in the next few years, I’ve got you covered.
Here’s a breakdown by conference of all the changes that occurred in July 2026 and will occur in 2027.
This page will updated when new moves are announced.
Colonial Athletic Association
Joining in 2027: Fairfield
The addition of Fairfield will bring the CAA to 14 full members in 2027.
Metro Conference
Leaving in 2027: Fairfield
The Metro, formerly known as the MAAC, will drop to 12 full members when Fairfield departs for the CAA.
West Coast Conference
Left in 2026: Gonzaga
Joined in 2026: Denver
Joining in 2027: UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
The WCC will grow to 12 full members when UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara join in 2027.
Big West Conference
Left in 2026: Hawaii, UC Davis
Joined in 2026: Cal Baptist, Sacramento State, Utah Valley
Leaving in 2027: UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara
The Big West will drop to 10 full members when UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara depart for the Big West.
Pac-12 Conference
Joined in 2026: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Texas State, Utah State
The Pac-12 restored itself as a full conference with the addition of 7 schools in 2026. Gonzaga is the only member that does not field a football team.
Mountain West Conference
Left in 2026: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State
Joined in 2026: Hawaii, UC Davis, UTEP
Hawaii, previously a football-only member, became a full member in 2026. UTEP and UC Davis joined as full members, bringing the conference membership to 10. The UC Davis football team remains at the FCS level in the Big Sky Conference, but North Dakota State and Northern Illinois joined as football-only members.
Conference USA
Left in 2026: Louisiana Tech, UTEP
Conference USA dropped to 10 full members with the departures of Louisiana Tech to the Sun Belt and UTEP to the Mountain West.
Sun Belt Conference
Left in 2026: Texas State
Joined in 2026: Louisiana Tech
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The Sun Belt held at 14 full members with the addition of Louisiana Tech offsetting Texas State’s departure to the Pac-12.
Big Sky Conference
Left in 2026: Sacramento State
Joined in 2026: Southern Utah, Utah Tech
The Big Sky grew to 11 full members with the additions of Southern Utah and Utah offsetting the departure of Sacramento State to the Big West.
Horizon League
Joined in 2026: Northern Illinois
The Horizon League grew to 12 full members with the addition of Northern Illinois.
Mid-American Conference
Left in 2026: Northern Illinois
The MAC dropped to 12 full members with the departure of Northern Illinois to the Horizon League. Sacramento State joined for football only.
Summit League
Left in 2026: Denver
The Summit League dropped to 8 full members with the departure of Denver to the WCC.
United Athletic Conference
Joined in 2026: Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, Little Rock, North Alabama, Tarleton, UT Arlington, West Georgia
The conference formerly known as the WAC rebranded to the UAC, which had previously been a football-only conference. The conference’s football teams — Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Tarleton and West Georgia — became full members and were joined by new non-football-playing members Little Rock and UT Arlington.
Atlantic Sun Conference
Left in 2026: Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, West Georgia
Joined in 2026: West Florida
The Atlantic Sun’s schools that previously played football in the UAC joined that league as full members, while the non-football playing members remained in the conference. West Florida joined the ASUN to bring the full membership up to 8, while the school’s football team became a football-only member of the UAC.
Western Athletic Conference
Left in 2026: Abilene Christian, Cal Baptist, Southern Utah, Tarleton, UT Arlington, Utah Tech, Utah Valley
Cal Baptist and Utah Valley departed for the Big West, Southern Utah and Utah Tech departed for the Big Sky, and Abilene Christian, Tarleton and UT Arlington were absorbed into the rebranded UAC.
Southern Conference
Joined in 2026: Tennessee Tech
The SoCon grew to 11 full members with the addition of Tennessee Tech.
Ohio Valley Conference
Left in 2026: Little Rock, Tennessee Tech
The OVC dropped to 9 full members with the departures of Little Rock to the UAC and Tennessee Tech to the SoCon.
Football-only changes
North Dakota State and Northern Illinois joined the Mountain West for football only in 2026.
Sacramento State joined the MAC for football only in 2026.
Villanova and William & Mary left CAA Football for the Patriot League in 2026.
Sacred Heart, previously an independent, joined CAA Football in 2026.
West Florida joined the UAC for football only in 2026.
Chicago State started a football program in 2026 and will begin conference play in the Northeast Conference in 2027.
