College Football Conference Realignment
From the independent beginnings of 1869 to today’s coast-to-coast conferences. History & Eras
Based on conference affiliations in this site’s ranked season archive, not a complete external membership registry. Counts include only ranked teams; missing seasons remain gaps. Independents are not a formal conference. AAC and AMC refer to the same American conference and are combined; PAC follows the archive’s Pacific naming. Other name changes, including PCAA becoming Big West in 1988, remain visible as affiliation changes. Historical composite groups follow the archive and do not necessarily represent a single formal league.
Conference Affiliation Changes (397)
| Season | Team | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Boise State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | Colorado State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | Fresno State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | Northern Illinois | Mid-American | Mountain West |
| 2026 | San Diego State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | Texas State | Sun Belt | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | Utah State | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2026 | UTEP | Conference USA | Mountain West |
| 2025 | Massachusetts | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 2024 | Arizona | Pac-12 | Big 12 |
| 2024 | Arizona State | Pac-12 | Big 12 |
| 2024 | Army | FBS Independents | American |
| 2024 | California | Pac-12 | ACC |
| 2024 | Colorado | Pac-12 | Big 12 |
| 2024 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | SEC |
| 2024 | Oregon | Pac-12 | Big Ten |
| 2024 | SMU | American | ACC |
| 2024 | Stanford | Pac-12 | ACC |
| 2024 | Texas | Big 12 | SEC |
| 2024 | UCLA | Pac-12 | Big Ten |
| 2024 | USC | Pac-12 | Big Ten |
| 2024 | Utah | Pac-12 | Big 12 |
| 2024 | Washington | Pac-12 | Big Ten |
| 2023 | BYU | FBS Independents | Big 12 |
| 2023 | UCF | American | Big 12 |
| 2023 | Charlotte | Conference USA | American |
| 2023 | Cincinnati | American | Big 12 |
| 2023 | Florida Atlantic | Conference USA | American |
| 2023 | Houston | American | Big 12 |
| 2023 | Liberty | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 2023 | New Mexico State | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 2023 | North Texas | Conference USA | American |
| 2023 | Rice | Conference USA | American |
| 2023 | UTSA | Conference USA | American |
| 2023 | UAB | Conference USA | American |
| 2022 | Marshall | Conference USA | Sun Belt |
| 2022 | Old Dominion | Conference USA | Sun Belt |
| 2022 | Southern Miss | Conference USA | Sun Belt |
| 2021 | New Mexico State | Conference USA | FBS Independents |
| 2021 | Notre Dame | ACC | FBS Independents |
| 2021 | Old Dominion | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2020 | UConn | American | FBS Independents |
| 2020 | New Mexico State | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 2020 | Notre Dame | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 2020 | Old Dominion | Conference USA | Sun Belt |
| 2018 | New Mexico State | Sun Belt | FBS Independents |
| 2016 | Massachusetts | Mid-American | FBS Independents |
| 2015 | Navy | FBS Independents | American |
| 2014 | East Carolina | Conference USA | American |
| 2014 | Idaho | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2014 | Louisville | American | ACC |
| 2014 | Maryland | ACC | Big Ten |
| 2014 | New Mexico State | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2014 | Old Dominion | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 2014 | Rutgers | American | Big Ten |
| 2014 | Tulane | Conference USA | American |
| 2014 | Tulsa | Conference USA | American |
| 2014 | Western Kentucky | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2013 | UCF | Conference USA | American |
| 2013 | Cincinnati | Big East | American |
| 2013 | UConn | Big East | American |
| 2013 | Florida Atlantic | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2013 | Florida International | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2013 | Houston | Conference USA | American |
| 2013 | Idaho | Western Athletic | FBS Independents |
| 2013 | Louisiana Tech | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2013 | Louisville | Big East | American |
| 2013 | Memphis | Conference USA | American |
| 2013 | Middle Tennessee | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2013 | New Mexico State | Western Athletic | FBS Independents |
| 2013 | North Texas | Sun Belt | Conference USA |
| 2013 | Pittsburgh | Big East | ACC |
| 2013 | Rutgers | Big East | American |
| 2013 | San José State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2013 | SMU | Conference USA | American |
| 2013 | South Florida | Big East | American |
| 2013 | Syracuse | Big East | ACC |
| 2013 | Temple | Big East | American |
| 2013 | Texas State | Western Athletic | Sun Belt |
| 2013 | UTSA | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2013 | Utah State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2012 | Fresno State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2012 | Hawai'i | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2012 | Missouri | Big 12 | SEC |
| 2012 | Nevada | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2012 | TCU | Mountain West | Big 12 |
| 2012 | Temple | Mid-American | Big East |
| 2012 | Texas A&M | Big 12 | SEC |
| 2012 | West Virginia | Big East | Big 12 |
| 2011 | Boise State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 2011 | BYU | Mountain West | FBS Independents |
| 2011 | Colorado | Big 12 | Pac-12 |
| 2011 | Nebraska | Big 12 | Big Ten |
| 2011 | Utah | Mountain West | Pac-12 |
| 2009 | Western Kentucky | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2007 | Temple | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 2005 | Army | Conference USA | FBS Independents |
| 2005 | Boston College | Big East | ACC |
| 2005 | UCF | Mid-American | Conference USA |
| 2005 | Cincinnati | Conference USA | Big East |
| 2005 | Idaho | Sun Belt | Western Athletic |
| 2005 | Louisville | Conference USA | Big East |
| 2005 | Marshall | Mid-American | Conference USA |
| 2005 | New Mexico State | Sun Belt | Western Athletic |
| 2005 | Rice | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2005 | SMU | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2005 | South Florida | Conference USA | Big East |
| 2005 | TCU | Conference USA | Mountain West |
| 2005 | Temple | Big East | FBS Independents |
| 2005 | Tulsa | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2005 | Utah State | Sun Belt | Western Athletic |
| 2005 | UTEP | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2004 | UConn | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 2004 | Miami | Big East | ACC |
| 2004 | Troy | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2004 | Virginia Tech | Big East | ACC |
| 2002 | UCF | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 2002 | South Florida | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 2002 | Utah State | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | Arkansas State | Big West | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | Boise State | Big West | Western Athletic |
| 2001 | Idaho | Big West | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | Louisiana | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | UL Monroe | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | Louisiana Tech | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 2001 | Middle Tennessee | FBS Independents | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | New Mexico State | Big West | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | North Texas | Big West | Sun Belt |
| 2001 | TCU | Western Athletic | Conference USA |
| 2001 | Utah State | Big West | FBS Independents |
| 2000 | Nevada | Big West | Western Athletic |
| 1999 | Air Force | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | Arkansas State | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1999 | BYU | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | Colorado State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | New Mexico | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | San Diego State | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | UAB | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1999 | UNLV | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | Utah | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1999 | Wyoming | Western Athletic | Mountain West |
| 1998 | Army | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1997 | East Carolina | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1997 | Northern Illinois | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 1996 | Arkansas State | Big West | FBS Independents |
| 1996 | Baylor | Southwest Conference | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Cincinnati | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1996 | Colorado | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Houston | Southwest Conference | Conference USA |
| 1996 | Iowa State | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Kansas | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Kansas State | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Louisiana | Big West | FBS Independents |
| 1996 | Louisiana Tech | Big West | FBS Independents |
| 1996 | Louisville | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1996 | Memphis | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1996 | Missouri | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Nebraska | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | North Texas | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1996 | Northern Illinois | Big West | FBS Independents |
| 1996 | Oklahoma | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Oklahoma State | Big Eight | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Rice | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic |
| 1996 | San José State | Big West | Western Athletic |
| 1996 | SMU | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic |
| 1996 | Southern Miss | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1996 | TCU | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic |
| 1996 | Texas | Southwest Conference | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Texas A&M | Southwest Conference | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Texas Tech | Southwest Conference | Big 12 |
| 1996 | Tulane | FBS Independents | Conference USA |
| 1996 | Tulsa | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1996 | UNLV | Big West | Western Athletic |
| 1993 | Arkansas State | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1993 | Louisiana | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1993 | Louisiana Tech | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1993 | Northern Illinois | FBS Independents | Big West |
| 1993 | Penn State | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1992 | Akron | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 1992 | Arkansas | Southwest Conference | SEC |
| 1992 | Florida State | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 1992 | Fresno State | Big West | Western Athletic |
| 1992 | South Carolina | FBS Independents | SEC |
| 1991 | Boston College | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Miami | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Pittsburgh | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Rutgers | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Syracuse | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Temple | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | Virginia Tech | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1991 | West Virginia | FBS Independents | Big East |
| 1988 | CAL State Fullerton | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | Fresno State | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | Long Beach State | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | New Mexico State | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | Pacific | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | San José State | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | UNLV | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1988 | Utah State | Pacific Coast Athletic | Big West |
| 1986 | Northern Illinois | Mid-American | FBS Independents |
| 1986 | Tulsa | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1984 | New Mexico State | Missouri Valley | Pacific Coast Athletic |
| 1983 | Georgia Tech | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 1982 | Louisiana | Southland | FBS Independents |
| 1982 | UNLV | FBS Independents | Pacific Coast Athletic |
| 1981 | Illinois State | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1980 | Air Force | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1979 | Hawai'i | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1978 | Arizona | Western Athletic | Pac-12 |
| 1978 | Arizona State | Western Athletic | Pac-12 |
| 1978 | Indiana State | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1978 | San Diego State | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1978 | Utah State | FBS Independents | Pacific Coast Athletic |
| 1977 | East Carolina | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1977 | Marshall | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1977 | Richmond | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1977 | Southern Illinois | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1977 | Tennessee Chattanooga | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1977 | William & Mary | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1976 | Eastern Michigan | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 1976 | Houston | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1976 | San Diego State | Pacific Coast Athletic | FBS Independents |
| 1975 | Arkansas State | FBS Independents | Southland |
| 1975 | Lamar | FBS Independents | Southland |
| 1975 | Louisiana | FBS Independents | Southland |
| 1975 | Louisville | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1975 | North Texas | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1975 | Northern Illinois | FBS Independents | Mid-American |
| 1975 | Texas Arlington | FBS Independents | Southland |
| 1973 | Memphis | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1972 | New Mexico State | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1972 | South Carolina | ACC | FBS Independents |
| 1971 | West Texas A&M | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1970 | Cincinnati | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1970 | Marshall | Mid-American | FBS Independents |
| 1969 | Pacific | FBS Independents | Pacific Coast Athletic |
| 1969 | San José State | FBS Independents | Pacific Coast Athletic |
| 1968 | Colorado State | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1968 | Memphis | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1968 | UTEP | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1968 | West Virginia | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1966 | Tulane | SEC | FBS Independents |
| 1965 | Virginia Tech | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1964 | Georgia Tech | SEC | FBS Independents |
| 1964 | Oregon | FBS Independents | Pac-12 |
| 1964 | Oregon State | FBS Independents | Pac-12 |
| 1963 | Louisville | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1962 | Arizona | FBS Independents | Western Athletic |
| 1962 | Arizona State | Border Conference | Western Athletic |
| 1962 | BYU | Skyline / Mountain States | Western Athletic |
| 1962 | Colorado State | Skyline / Mountain States | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | Hardin Simmons | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | Montana | Skyline / Mountain States | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | New Mexico | Skyline / Mountain States | Western Athletic |
| 1962 | New Mexico State | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | Utah | Skyline / Mountain States | Western Athletic |
| 1962 | Utah State | Skyline / Mountain States | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | UTEP | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | Washington State | FBS Independents | Pac-12 |
| 1962 | West Texas A&M | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1962 | Wyoming | Skyline / Mountain States | Western Athletic |
| 1961 | Arizona | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1960 | Houston | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1960 | Oklahoma State | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1960 | Texas Tech | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1959 | Idaho | Pac-12 | FBS Independents |
| 1959 | Oregon | Pac-12 | FBS Independents |
| 1959 | Oregon State | Pac-12 | FBS Independents |
| 1959 | Washington State | Pac-12 | FBS Independents |
| 1957 | Cincinnati | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1957 | Detroit Mercy | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1957 | North Texas | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1957 | Oklahoma State | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1956 | Brown | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Columbia | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Cornell | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Dartmouth | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Harvard | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Pennsylvania | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Princeton | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1956 | Texas Tech | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1956 | Yale | FBS Independents | Ivy League |
| 1954 | Virginia | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 1953 | Clemson | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 1953 | Duke | Southern Conference | ACC |
| 1953 | Maryland | FBS Independents | ACC |
| 1953 | Michigan State | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1953 | North Carolina | Southern Conference | ACC |
| 1953 | NC State | Southern Conference | ACC |
| 1953 | South Carolina | Southern Conference | ACC |
| 1953 | Wake Forest | Southern Conference | ACC |
| 1952 | Clemson | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1952 | Drake | Missouri Valley | FBS Independents |
| 1952 | Maryland | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1951 | Houston | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1951 | Montana | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1951 | New Mexico | Border Conference | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1950 | Montana | Pac-12 | FBS Independents |
| 1950 | West Virginia | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1949 | Detroit Mercy | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1948 | Colorado | Skyline / Mountain States | Big Eight |
| 1944 | Texas Tech | FBS Independents | Border Conference |
| 1943 | Texas Tech | Border Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1941 | George Washington | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1941 | Hardin Simmons | FBS Independents | Border Conference |
| 1940 | Sewanee | SEC | FBS Independents |
| 1938 | Virginia | Southern Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1937 | ST. Louis | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1936 | Citadel | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1936 | Davidson | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1936 | Furman | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1936 | Richmond | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1936 | Wake Forest | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1936 | William & Mary | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1935 | Tulsa | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1933 | Alabama | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Auburn | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Florida | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Georgia | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Georgia Tech | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Kentucky | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | LSU | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Ole Miss | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Mississippi State | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Sewanee | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Tennessee | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Tulane | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1933 | Vanderbilt | Southern Conference | SEC |
| 1928 | Creighton | FBS Independents | Missouri Valley |
| 1928 | Drake | Big Eight | Missouri Valley |
| 1928 | Duke | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1928 | Grinnell | Big Eight | Missouri Valley |
| 1928 | Oklahoma State | Big Eight | Missouri Valley |
| 1928 | Washington (missouri) | Big Eight | Missouri Valley |
| 1925 | Oklahoma State | Southwest Conference | Big Eight |
| 1925 | Western State | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1924 | Montana | FBS Independents | Pac-12 |
| 1924 | Virginia Military Institute | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1923 | TCU | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1922 | Florida | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | Idaho | FBS Independents | Pac-12 |
| 1922 | LSU | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | Ole Miss | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | Sewanee | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | South Carolina | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | Tulane | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1922 | Vanderbilt | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Alabama | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Auburn | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Clemson | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Georgia | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Georgia Tech | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Kentucky | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Maryland | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Mississippi State | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Nebraska | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1921 | North Carolina | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | NC State | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Phillips | Southwest Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1921 | Tennessee | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Virginia | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Virginia Tech | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1921 | Washington & LEE | FBS Independents | Southern Conference |
| 1920 | Oklahoma | Southwest Conference | Big Eight |
| 1919 | Nebraska | Big Eight | FBS Independents |
| 1918 | SMU | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1917 | Michigan | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1917 | Southwestern (texas) | Southwest Conference | FBS Independents |
| 1914 | Arkansas | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1914 | Baylor | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1914 | Oklahoma | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1914 | Southwestern (texas) | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1914 | Texas | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1914 | Texas A&M | FBS Independents | Southwest Conference |
| 1913 | Kansas State | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1911 | Iowa | Western & MVIAA | Big Ten |
| 1910 | Colorado | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1910 | Colorado College | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1910 | Colorado Mines | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1910 | Denver | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1910 | Wyoming | FBS Independents | Skyline / Mountain States |
| 1908 | Drake | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1908 | Iowa State | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1907 | Iowa | Big Ten | Western & MVIAA |
| 1907 | Kansas | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1907 | Michigan | Big Ten | FBS Independents |
| 1907 | Missouri | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1907 | Nebraska | FBS Independents | Big Eight |
| 1900 | Indiana | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1900 | Iowa | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Chicago | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Illinois | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Michigan | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Minnesota | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Northwestern | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Purdue | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
| 1896 | Wisconsin | FBS Independents | Big Ten |
Membership by Season
ACC 17 ranked teams
American 14 ranked teams
Big 12 16 ranked teams
Big Ten 18 ranked teams
Conference USA 11 ranked teams
Mid-American 13 ranked teams
Mountain West 10 ranked teams
Pac-12 8 ranked teams
SEC 16 ranked teams
Season
Indep.
Big TenBig Eight
Western / MVIAA
Skyline
SWC
PACSouthern
Missouri Valley
Border
SEC
ACCIvy
MACWAC
PCAA
SLC
SWAC
BW
BE
Big 12
C-USA
MWC
Sun Belt
AmericanBands show membership counts; connecting lines show conference changes. Missing ranked seasons are not connected.