College football conferences 2026
FBS: 11 conferences, 138 teams
Big Ten18
Big Ten Conference
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Oregon
Penn State
Purdue
Rutgers
UCLA
USC
Washington
Wisconsin
ACC17
Atlantic Coast Conference
Boston College
California
Clemson
Duke
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Louisville
Miami
NC State
North Carolina
Pittsburgh
SMU
Stanford
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest
Big 1216
Big 12 Conference
Arizona
Arizona State
Baylor
BYU
Cincinnati
Colorado
Houston
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas Tech
UCF
Utah
West Virginia
SEC16
Southeastern Conference
American Athletic14
American Athletic Conference
Sun Belt14
Sun Belt Conference
App State
Arkansas State
Coastal Carolina
Georgia Southern
Georgia State
James Madison
Louisiana
Louisiana Tech
Marshall
Old Dominion
South Alabama
Southern Miss
Troy
UL Monroe
Mid-American13
Mid-American Conference
Akron
Ball State
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Kent State
Massachusetts
Miami (OH)
Ohio
Sacramento State
Toledo
Western Michigan
Conference USA10
Delaware
Florida International
Jacksonville State
Kennesaw State
Liberty
Middle Tennessee
Missouri State
New Mexico State
Sam Houston
Western Kentucky
Mountain West10
Mountain West Conference
Pac-128
Pac-12 Conference
FBS Independents2
American Conference membership since 2013
10 programs played the first American Conference season in 2013: UCF, Louisville, Cincinnati, Houston, SMU, UConn, Rutgers, South Florida, Temple, Memphis.
- 2014 Joined: East Carolina, Tulsa, Tulane. Gone: Louisville, Rutgers.
- 2015 Joined: Navy.
- 2020 Gone: UConn.
- 2023 Joined: UTSA, Rice, North Texas, UAB, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte. Gone: UCF, Cincinnati, Houston.
- 2024 Joined: Army. Gone: SMU.
Worked out from the American Conference standings each season (CollegeFootballData via our data hub): a program appears the first season it plays a conference schedule.
FCS: 14 conferences, 128 teams
Big Sky13
Cal Poly, Eastern Washington, Idaho, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Southern Utah, UC Davis, Utah Tech, Weber State
Coastal Athletic13
Bryant, Campbell, Elon, Hampton, Maine, Monmouth, New Hampshire, North Carolina A&T, Rhode Island, Sacred Heart, Stony Brook, Towson, UAlbany
SWAC12
Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Alcorn State, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Bethune-Cookman, Florida A&M, Grambling, Jackson State, Mississippi Valley State, Prairie View A&M, Southern, Texas Southern
Pioneer11
Butler, Davidson, Dayton, Drake, Marist, Morehead State, Presbyterian, San Diego, St. Thomas (MN), Stetson, Valparaiso
Patriot10
Bucknell, Colgate, Fordham, Georgetown, Holy Cross, Lafayette, Lehigh, Richmond, Villanova, William & Mary
Southern10
Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Furman, Mercer, Samford, Tennessee Tech, The Citadel, VMI, Western Carolina, Wofford
Southland10
East Texas A&M, Houston Christian, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese, Nicholls, Northwestern State, SE Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, UT Rio Grande Valley
MVFC9
Illinois State, Indiana State, Murray State, North Dakota, Northern Iowa, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Southern Illinois, Youngstown State
Ivy8
Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Pennsylvania, Princeton, Yale
NEC8
Central Connecticut, Duquesne, Long Island University, Mercyhurst, New Haven, Robert Morris, Stonehill, Wagner
OVC8
Charleston Southern, Eastern Illinois, Gardner-Webb, Lindenwood, Southeast Missouri State, Tennessee State, UT Martin, Western Illinois
UAC8
Abilene Christian, Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama, Tarleton State, West Florida, West Georgia
MEAC6
Delaware State, Howard, Morgan State, Norfolk State, North Carolina Central, South Carolina State
FCS Independents2
Chicago State, Merrimack
Conference membership for 2026 from CollegeFootballData via our data hub.
Every college football conference for 2026: the 11 FBS conferences with all 138 teams, the 14 FCS conferences with 128 teams, and how the American Conference has changed since 2013. For what separates the two subdivisions, see FBS vs FCS; for the American Conference today, the teams and the standings.
The American Conference Report
One conference, in your inbox every Tuesday.
Standings, the title race and one opinion on the American Conference. No filler.
Frequently asked questions
How many FBS conferences are there in 2026?
10 conferences plus the independents: Big Ten (18), ACC (17), Big 12 (16), SEC (16), American Athletic (14), Sun Belt (14), Mid-American (13), Conference USA (10), Mountain West (10), Pac-12 (8), FBS Independents (2). 138 FBS teams in all.
How many teams are in the American Conference?
Which teams have joined the American Conference?
2014: East Carolina, Tulsa, Tulane. 2015: Navy. 2023: UTSA, Rice, North Texas, UAB, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte. 2024: Army.
Which teams have left the American Conference?
after 2013: Louisville, Rutgers. after 2019: UConn. after 2022: UCF, Cincinnati, Houston. after 2023: SMU.
How many FCS conferences are there?
14 conferences with 128 FCS teams in 2026.