Major Changes Coming To Big Ten, College Football In 2024
With the introduction of things like NIL and the transfer portal, the landscape of college football continues to evolve at a rapid pace. That rapid pace will continue in 2024 as major changes are set to take place both within the Big Ten conference and on a national level.
Notable changes coming to the Big Ten conference in 2024:
UCLA and USC Join the Conference
Beginning in the 2024 season, the Big Ten Conference will feature 16 teams for the first time in conference history - adding both UCLA and USC into the mix.
No Divisional Format
Under the current format, the Big Ten championship game features the top team from the East and West division. Beginning in 2024, there will no longer be divisions within the conference and the championship game will feature the two teams with the best overall records.
Via BigTen.org:
The 2024 season will conclude with the annual Big Ten Football Championship Game, which will feature the top two teams in the overall conference standings at the end of the regular season, with the winner earning the Big Ten Championship. Tiebreaking procedures will be announced later.
Protected Rivalries
With the conference moving from 14 to 16 teams and the elimination of divisions, the Big Ten wanted to make sure it protected certain rivalry games to ensure that they'll be played each year. Here are the protected rivalries for each Big Ten program:
- Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State
- Ohio State: Michigan
- Penn State: (none)
- Illinois: Northwestern, Purdue
- Northwestern: Illinois
- Rutgers: Maryland
- Indiana: Purdue
- Michigan State: Michigan
- Iowa: Minnesota, Nebraska, Wisconsin
- Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin
- Maryland: Rutgers
- Nebraska: Iowa
- Purdue: Illinois, Indiana
- Wisconsin: Iowa, Minnesota
- UCLA: USC
- USC: UCLA
Notable changes coming to College Football in 2024:
College Football Playoff Expansion
Since its inception back in 2014, the College Football Playoff has featured the top four teams in college football as voted on by a committee. Beginning in 2024, the field will be expanded from four to 12 teams - with the first round of the playoff scheduled to take place at on-campus sites.
Via ESPN.com:
The field will comprise the selection committee's six highest-ranked conference champions and its next six highest-ranked teams. The four highest-ranked conference champions will earn the top seeds and a first-round bye. The other eight teams will play in the first round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds on campus or at another site of their choice.
The first round of the playoff in 2024 will take place the week of Dec. 21, likely late in that week. The specific dates will be announced later.
For the 2024 and 2025 seasons, the four quarterfinal games and two semifinal games will be played in bowls on a rotating basis. The 2024 quarterfinals will take place in the Fiesta Bowl, Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl, while the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl will host the semifinals. The 2025 quarterfinals will take place in the Cotton, Orange, Rose and Sugar, while the Fiesta and Peach will host the semifinals.
The national championship games will be played Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta, and Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami.
Elimination of Clock Stoppage After First Down
Introduced in 1968, college football has operated under the rule that the game clock stops after each first down. In an effort to speed up the game, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversite Panel approved a rule change earlier this year that eliminates clock stoppage after first downs - although the game clock will still stop after a first down in the final two minutes of each half.
Conference Realignments
- Big Ten: adds USC and UCLA
- Big 12: adds BYU, Cincinnati, Houston, UCF