How Many College Football Conferences Are There in 2025?

By Sarah Miller · July 3, 2049

As of the 2025 college football season, there are 11 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences and 13 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) conferences, totaling 24 NCAA college football conferences in the United States.

Understanding College Football Conference Structure

The NCAA governs college football through multiple divisions, with the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) representing the highest level of competition. Below this is the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), followed by Division II and III. The term "college football conference" typically refers to FBS and FCS leagues, where teams compete regionally and for national postseason opportunities.

Key Facts About FBS and FCS Conferences

The FBS includes 11 athletic conferences as of 2025, each eligible for bowl game berths or playoff qualification.
The FCS consists of 13 conferences, with its national champion determined by a 24-team playoff tournament.
Conference realignment has significantly reshaped the landscape, especially from 2023–2025, affecting membership and scheduling.
Each conference operates under NCAA rules but maintains autonomy in scheduling, revenue sharing, and media rights.

FBS vs. FCS: A Comparative Overview

The primary distinction between FBS and FCS lies in scholarship limits, postseason structure, and television exposure. FBS teams can offer up to 85 full scholarships, while FCS programs are limited to 63 equivalency scholarships. Additionally, FBS teams compete in bowl games, whereas FCS teams participate in an NCAA-sanctioned playoff.

Current FBS Conferences (2025 Season)

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)
Big 12 Conference
Big Ten Conference
Pacific-12 Conference (Pac-12)*
Southeastern Conference (SEC)
American Athletic Conference (AAC)
Conference USA (C-USA)
Mid-American Conference (MAC)
Mountain West Conference (MWC)
Sun Belt Conference
Independent Teams (Not in a conference: Army, BYU, Notre Dame, UConn)

*Note: The Pac-12 currently operates with only two football-sponsoring members (Oregon State and Washington State) but remains recognized as a conference by the NCAA for scheduling and administrative purposes.

Current FCS Conferences (2025 Season)

Big Sky Conference
Big South-OVC Football Association
CAA Football (Colonial Athletic Association)
Ivy League
Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC)
Northeast Conference (NEC)
Pioneer Football League
Southern Conference (SoCon)
Southland Conference
SWAC (Southwestern Athletic Conference)
MEAC (Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference) – merging with SWAC for football
ASUN Conference – partnering with WAC, now Big South-OVC
Western Athletic Conference (WAC) – football merged into Big South-OVC

Detailed Breakdown of NCAA Football Conferences

Division	Conference	Member Schools (Football)	Founded	Headquarters
FBS	ACC	17	1953	Charlotte, NC
FBS	Big Ten	18	1896	Rosemont, IL
FBS	SEC	16	1932	Birmingham, AL
FBS	Big 12	16	1996	Irving, TX
FBS	Sun Belt	14	1976	Arlington, TX
FBS	AAC	14	1979	Irving, TX
FBS	Mountain West	12	1999	Colorado Springs, CO
FBS	MAC	12	1946	Cleveland, OH
FBS	C-USA	10	1995	Dallas, TX
FBS	Pac-12*	2	1915	San Francisco, CA
FBS	Independents	4	N/A	N/A
FCS	MVFC	11	1985	St. Louis, MO
FCS	CAA Football	15	1983	Newport News, VA
FCS	Big Sky	13	1963	Ogden, UT
FCS	Southland	9	1963	Frisco, TX
FCS	SWAC	10	1920	Birmingham, AL
FCS	Ivy League	8	1954	Princeton, NJ
FCS	SoCon	10	1921	Spartanburg, SC
FCS	Pioneer League	10	1991	Colorado Springs, CO
FCS	NEC	7	1988	Bridgewater, NJ
FCS	Big South-OVC	14	2023	Nashville, TN / Boiling Springs, NC

Table data source:1, 2, 3

The table highlights significant structural changes in 2025, particularly the contraction of the Pac-12 to two members and the consolidation of several FCS leagues through mergers like the Big South-OVC. The FBS continues to trend toward larger, geographically dispersed conferences, while FCS leagues maintain regional focus with strategic partnerships to preserve competitive stability.

Impact of Conference Realignment on College Football

Recent realignment—especially the additions of Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington to the Big Ten, and Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah to the Big 12—has redefined conference footprints. These shifts are driven by media rights deals, expanding national fanbases, and enhanced revenue distribution.

Expanded conferences now span multiple time zones, increasing TV viewership but raising travel costs.
Smaller FBS conferences like C-USA and the Mountain West face challenges in maintaining competitiveness and media relevance.
FCS programs are adapting through alliances (e.g., ASUN-WAC merger) to ensure minimum membership requirements for NCAA championship eligibility.

Common Questions About College Football Conferences

How many FBS college football conferences are there in 2025?

There are 11 FBS college football conferences in the 2025 season: ACC, Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, Sun Belt, American Athletic, Mountain West, MAC, Conference USA, Pac-12 (with two active members), and independent schools that do not belong to a conference.

Why does the Pac-12 still exist with only two teams?

The Pac-12 retains its NCAA recognition because Oregon State and Washington State continue to sponsor football and fulfill scheduling obligations. The conference maintains legal standing and media rights control, with hopes of future expansion or partnership to restore full operations.

What is the difference between FBS and FCS conferences?

FBS conferences offer up to 85 full scholarships and determine their champions via bowl games and a 12-team playoff. FCS conferences allow 63 scholarship equivalents and crown their champion through a 24-team NCAA playoff tournament. FBS receives greater media coverage and revenue.

Are there any new college football conferences forming in 2025?

No entirely new FBS conferences are forming in 2025. However, the Big South-OVC Football Association launched in 2023 as a merger between the Big South and Ohio Valley Conference to stabilize FCS membership. This alliance functions as a de facto new conference.

Which schools are independent in college football?

As of 2025, four FBS schools compete as independents: Army, BYU, Notre Dame, and UConn. Independence allows flexibility in scheduling but excludes them from conference championships and automatic bowl bids, though Notre Dame has a special arrangement with the ACC for scheduling and access to the playoff.