The recent changes in college football have sparked discussions about which conferences offer the most financial benefits and opportunities for success. However, for fans, the ultimate concern remains whether their team can secure victories on game day. The realignment and media deals in 2024 have brought about significant changes, including larger conferences and an expanded College Football Playoff. This has left every fan base wondering how these changes will impact their team’s chances of winning.
To evaluate the potential success of each power-conference school, a scoring system ranging from minus-5 to positive-5 has been applied. This score is based solely on the team’s ability to win and does not consider factors such as coaching staff or current roster. A score of 0 indicates no change in the team’s prospects, while scores ranging from 1 to 5 suggest varying degrees of improvement, and scores from -1 to -5 indicate potential decline.
In the ACC, schools like SMU, Clemson, Florida State, and Miami have seen positive shifts in their scores due to factors such as recent success, recruiting potential, and NIL opportunities. On the other hand, schools like Pittsburgh, Syracuse, and Virginia have received negative scores, indicating potential challenges in the new landscape.
In the Big Ten, teams like Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State have favorable scores, suggesting continued success and potential Playoff appearances. Schools like Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa face challenges in the evolving college football environment.
The Big 12 has seen schools like BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston receive positive scores, indicating improved prospects in the new conference alignment. However, schools like Oklahoma, Texas Tech, and West Virginia have faced challenges in adapting to the changing landscape.
In the SEC, traditional powerhouses like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU continue to have strong scores, while schools like South Carolina and Vanderbilt face greater obstacles in maintaining competitiveness.
Overall, the realignment and changes in college football have had varying impacts on different schools, with some benefiting from new opportunities while others face increased challenges. As the sport continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how each team navigates the shifting landscape to achieve success on the field.