Although, power 5 status won't mean much when the playoff expands to 12 teams anyway. I think the best move for both the Mountain West and the PAC12 would be to merge the two conferences in a way that preserves the media deals so no one has to pay to exit their conference but then puts both under the name of the PAC12 to hope they can maintain some sort of power 5 status. But leaving behind the PAC12 name to dissolve into nothing wouldn't be smart on the part of those 4 teams either. With everyone asking what's next for the PAC12, they aren't likely to be able to add any Mountain West teams since those teams will have to pay in the neighborhood of $30 million to get out of the MWC. The Big12 certainly didn't sit on their hands the way the PAC12 did when they lost their top two schools and markets! Well done on the part of the Big12! Though USC has a better chance at it than UCLA. I think USC and UCLA will be mediocre at best in the BIG10. Still, it isn’t as powerful as the SEC, which clocks in at No. 5, while Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and MSU all making the list. Of course, Ohio State is not far behind at No.

All they really did was open up the LA and California markets to the rest of the BIG10 schools. With USC coming on board, the Big Ten elevates from seven to eight schools, with Michigan being on top as the third-most valuable team in the country. Honestly, I bet USC and UCLA are about to get blown out in the BIG10. Randy Campbell also left his position as an NFL replay official to head the Big Sky Conference.Can't say I didn't see the conference realignment coming when the PAC12 didn't make a single move to ensure their future after USC and UCLA jumped ship. The Asun Conference was previously in the SEC pipeline, but that alliance has ended. This merger is only for FCS, and the officiating will be overseen by Matt Young. In addition, the Western Athletic and Asun conferences have merged to create the United Athletic Conference, although this is more of a construct on paper, as it is not formally recognized as a conference. Also, the American Athletic Conference has moved from its officiating alliance with the ACC to the Big 12. The former NFL senior VP of officiating finds a new home in the ACC after a partial season working as a liaison for NFL broadcasting. This was previously assigned to the Big 12 officials.Īlberto Riveron was named the new head of ACC officiating at the end of the 2022 season. It’s important to note that C-USA is not joining in MWC in the Big 12 officiating consortium this year, but Football Zebras has been told this in consideration for future years.Īlong with Defee’s move, MWC officials will get to their own conference championship game. The former longtime referee will continue to be the coordinator for Conference USA. Mike Defee is now the Mountain West Conference coordinator of officials.

There are a few moves that involve the conference officiating coordinators and the alignment of existing officiating alliances, which the Power Five conferences except the Pac-12 have formed for coordination and development. Additionally, NFL vice president of replay Russell Yurk has joined the Big Ten in the same capacity. In that move, 4 officials at the referee position jumped from the Pac-12 Conference to the Big Ten. The biggest change in the offseason was the Big Ten’s effort to increase its officiating staff in advance of seismic conference realignment. A lot of change has happened with college football officiating during this offseason with adjustments, promotions, and realignments.

Group of 5 conference realignment