Conference Realignment Wire

Scanning hundreds of accounts to send you the best conference realignment news updates

[Conference Realignment Wire @RealignmentWire]

*Big realignment news drops out West*

College football fans in the Eastern Time Zone:

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

NEWS: Big Ten officials are expected to discuss in the upcoming days a league-wide mandate to not play Texas Tech in any sports, per three Big Ten sources. This is in the wake of Nebraska AD Troy Dannen informing his staff today that they aren't allowed to schedule Texas Tech.

[Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger]

Sen. Maria Cantwell says she “believes” that the ACC and Big 12 sent supportive letters for the bill because they fear their league will, eventually, go the way of the Pac-12 and be picked apart by the SEC and Big Ten. They “think that’s what is going to happen to them next.”

[Conference Realignment Wire @RealignmentWire]

CFB fans on vacation in Brazil Week 0 because they couldn’t get a refund:

[CFB Kings @CFBKings]

The Rate Bowl has changed its name back to the Cactus Bowl 🌵👀

It was previously known as the Cactus Bowl a decade ago, before undergoing several name changes with various sponsors.

The bowl game’s conference tie-ins will feature a Big Ten team vs. a Big 12 team.

[MAACSports @MAACSports]

A new basketball rivalry takes the hardwood 🏀

The inaugural @AmericaEast and Metro Conference Basketball Challenge tips off this November.

🔗: https://t.co/lkqEtUQKEG

[Chris Vannini @ChrisVannini]

News: The College Football Playoff announces 2026 kickoff times.

Of note: TNT has first-round, quarterfinals and a semifinal this year.

Reminder: The national title game is Jan. 25 because Jan. 1 falls late in the week, which pushes the semis back two weeks.

[Ben Whitehead @BenOnSports]

Imagine having to explain to someone seeing Wazzu vs Oregon St in Eugene that this is not a Pac 12 Tournament game, but an NCAA Regional of a Mountain West team vs an Independent team at a Big Ten stadium.

[Brandon Marcello @bmarcello]

The Big 12 is considering moving to 10 conference games in football and 20 conference games in men's basketball in the future, says commissioner Brett Yormark. Those discussions will continue.

[Pete Thamel @PeteThamel]

Big 12 football coaches unanimously voted in favor of a 24-team College Football Playoff format in Big 12 meetings today. Not a surprise, but unanimous like the Big Ten.

[RedditCFB @RedditCFB]

The MAAC (D1 non-Football) has rebranded as the Metro Conference, with a new name and logo.

[MAACSports @MAACSports]

No more acronyms. No more confusion. This is who we are.

Welcome to The Metro

Learn more about the full brand launch coming July 1.

🔗: https://t.co/3oQko6CEIS

[Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger]

As expected, SEC presidents and chancellors did not vote or take action on any items this week in Destin, including CFP expansion, future self-governance, etc.

Conversations will continue.

[Ross Dellenger @RossDellenger]

Greg Sankey says the SEC's timeline on a decision on a 24-team CFP expansion will likely come in the fall.

[David Ubben @davidubben]

This will begin in 2027, not next season.

[Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbach]

Greg Sankey said that SEC ADs voted to play a conference game the second-to-last regular season football weekend, starting in 2027.

Sankey calls it "the end of cupcake weekend."

[Brett McMurphy @Brett_McMurphy]

The Civil War lives! Oregon, Oregon State add home/home series; 2028 & 2032 at Oregon State, 2029 & 2031 at Oregon. The teams will not play in 2030

[Brett McMurphy @Brett_McMurphy]

Poinsettia Bowl finalizing deal to pit new Pac-12 champ, if it doesn't qualify for playoff, vs. Pac-12 legacy team in 2026, sources told @On3. Pac-12 legacy teams are former Pac-12 members Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah & Washington

[WILL @willmbetts]

The Pac-12 is expected to distribute $13.2 million per year to its full-share schools, according to a Washington State Board of Regents meeting.

Schools like Boise State & Gonzaga, that were earning roughly $3.5m to $5.7m in recent years, are getting 2x-3x raises. 💰

[Brett McMurphy @Brett_McMurphy]

ACC commissioner Jim Phillips said ESPN does not want playoff to expand past 16 teams. “ESPN’s made it clear, they want it to stay at 12 or 14, but no more than 16,” Phillips said.