Carter’s dream collegiate conference alignment

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Conference realignment has taken over collegiate athletics during my lifetime. The Big Ten added Maryland and Nebraska and the SEC added Missouri and Texas A&M over a decade ago. More recently, those same conferences grew even larger—the Big Ten expanded west with the additions of UCLA and USC, followed by Oregon and Washington, while the SEC made a similar move by bringing in Oklahoma and Texas, former Big 12 rivals of Missouri and Texas A&M. As a result, the Pac-12 collapsed—leading its remaining members to either join the Big 12 or stay put as they await the league’s potential rebuild ahead of the 2026–2027 academic and athletic year. Now, the unofficial ‘Power 4’ is debating the future of the College Football Playoff amid expansion talks, with the Big Ten and SEC pushing for greater influence. Additionally, ‘March Madness’ may expand from 68 to 72 or even 76 teams, and the College World Series field could grow as well.

In this post, I wanted to share my dream conference alignments, complete with proposed formats, protected matchups, and end-of-season rivalry games for both Thanksgiving weekend in football and the final weekend of the college basketball season. Enjoy my last planned post of the summer before my 2025–2026 NFL and College Football Previews drop on Sunday, August 10, and Saturday, August 16, respectively.

Italics signify that the school is a new member of the conference

ACC
Clemson
Duke
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Maryland
North Carolina
North Carolina State
Virginia
Wake Forest

Football (8-Game Conference Schedule)

Key Principles:
1 permanent rivalry game for Thanksgiving Weekend
2 other protected rivalries
6 rotating opponents (3 per year on a 2-year cycle)

Format (6 teams, 3 per year):
Each team rotates through the 6 others not protected over a 2-year span
Home-and-home every 4 years, ensuring full rotation

Total:
3 protected games
5 rotating games

Protected Opponents:
Clemson vs. Florida State
Duke vs. North Carolina
NC State vs. Wake Forest
Clemson vs. South Carolina (non-conference)
Duke vs. Wake Forest
Florida State vs. Florida (non-conference)
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia (non-conference)
Maryland vs. Virginia
North Carolina vs. NC State

Thanksgiving Weekend Rivalries (Play every year):
Clemson vs. South Carolina (non-conference)
Duke vs. Wake Forest
Florida State vs. Florida (non-conference)
Georgia Tech vs. Georgia (non-conference)
North Carolina vs. NC State

Basketball (16-Game Double Round-Robin)

Final Weekend Matchups:
Clemson vs. Georgia Tech
Duke vs. North Carolina
Maryland vs. Virginia
NC State vs. Wake Forest
Florida State gets a bye before the ACC Tournament like every other team does at some point throughout the regular season.

Baseball (24-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
3-game weekend series vs. each of the 8 opponents
Total: 8 opponents × 3 games = 24 games
Rotate home/away annually
ACC Baseball Tournament with top 6 teams (2 pools of 3 → title game)

Big 12
Baylor
Colorado
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Missouri
Nebraska
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
SMU
Texas
Texas A&M
TCU
Texas Tech

Football (9-Game Conference Schedule):

Format:
3 protected games
6 rotating games (cycle through remaining 10 teams every 2 years)
7 home-and-home cycles completed every 4 years
Full round-robin every 4 years

Protected Opponents:
Baylor vs. TCU
Colorado vs. Nebraska
Kansas vs. Kansas State (Sunflower Showdown)
Kansas vs. Missouri (Border War)
Nebraska vs. Missouri
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State (Bedlam)
Oklahoma vs. Texas
SMU vs. TCU
Texas vs. Texas A&M (Lone Star Showdown)
Texas Tech vs. Texas

Thanksgiving Weekend Rivalries:
Baylor vs. TCU
Colorado vs. Nebraska
Kansas vs. Missouri
Kansas State vs. Iowa State
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
Texas vs. Texas A&M
Texas Tech vs. SMU

Basketball (18-Game Conference Schedule):

Pod-Based Rotation (3-permanent, 10-rotating):
Play 6 teams twice (home and away) = 12 games
Play 6 other teams once = 6 games
Total = 18 conference games
Full round-robin every 2 years
Pods help maintain rivalries

Pod Pairings:
Pod 1: SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech
Pod 2: Baylor, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, TCU
Pod 3: Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri
Pod 4: Colorado, Nebraska, rotating any 2 (geographic variety)

Final Weekend Showdowns:
Baylor vs. TCU
Colorado vs. Nebraska
Kansas State vs. Iowa State
Kansas vs. Missouri
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
SMU vs. Texas Tech
Texas vs. Texas A&M

Baseball (27-Game Conference Schedule):

Format:
9 weekend series (3 games each) = 27 games
Rotate 4 opponents off annually (play 9 of 13 each season)
Every team is played at least twice (home/away) every 3 years

Protected Series:
Baylor vs. TCU
Colorado vs. Nebraska
Kansas vs. Kansas State
Kansas vs. Missouri
Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State
SMU vs. Texas Tech
Texas vs. Texas A&M

Tournament:
8-team Big 12 Baseball Tournament
Double-elimination based on standings

Big East
Boston College
Louisville
Miami
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
UCF
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

Football (9-Game Round Robin Schedule)

Format:
Rivalries are protected annually
Full Round-Robin: Every team plays each of the 9 others once
No Divisions Needed
Top 2 teams meet in the Big East Championship Game at MetLife Stadium

Thanksgiving Weekend Rivalries:
Boston College vs. Syracuse
Louisville vs. Kentucky (non-conference)
Miami vs. Non-Conference Opponent
Pitt vs. West Virginia (Backyard Brawl)
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
South Florida vs. UCF (War on I-4)

Basketball (18-Game Double Round Robin)
Format:
Each team plays all 9 others home and away
Total: 18 conference games

Final Weekend Matchups
Boston College vs. Syracuse
Louisville vs. Miami
Pitt vs. West Virginia
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
South Florida vs. UCF

Baseball (27-Game Round Robin)

Format
3-game weekend series vs. every other team (9 × 3 = 27 games)
Rotate home/away each year
Every team plays every other once per season
Big East Baseball Tournament: Top 6 teams (2 pools)

Protected Rivalries:
Boston College vs. Syracuse
Louisville vs. Miami
Pitt vs. West Virginia
Rutgers vs. Virginia Tech
South Florida vs. UCF

Big Ten
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Football (9-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
3 Protected Games
6 Rotating Opponents (play every team at least twice in a 4-year cycle)

Protected Opponents:
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Indiana vs. Purdue
Iowa vs. Minnesota
Michigan vs. Ohio State
Michigan State vs. Michigan
Penn State vs. Notre Dame

Rotation
Year 1: Play 6 of 9 remaining teams
Year 2: Rotate in the other 3 + repeat 3 from Year 1
Home-and-home with every team every 4 years

Thanksgiving Weekend Rivalries:
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Indiana vs. Purdue
Iowa vs. Notre Dame
Michigan vs. Ohio State
Michigan State vs. Penn State
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin

Basketball (20-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
Play 7 teams twice (14 games)
Play 6 teams once (6 games)
Rotate annually to ensure all teams play home and away every 3 years

Protected Opponents:
Illinois–Northwestern
Indiana–Purdue
Iowa–Minnesota
Michigan–Michigan State
Ohio State–Michigan
Notre Dame–Penn State

Final Weekend Matchups:
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Indiana vs. Purdue
Iowa vs. Notre Dame
Michigan vs. Michigan State
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Penn State vs. Notre Dame

Baseball (30-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
3-game weekend series vs. 10 of 11 opponents = 30 games
Rotate 1 team off schedule each year
Home/away flip-flop each season
Every team plays all others at least twice every 3 years

Protected Opponents
Illinois vs. Northwestern
Indiana vs. Purdue
Iowa vs. Minnesota
Minnesota vs. Wisconsin
Michigan vs. Michigan State
Michigan vs. Ohio State
Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

Pac-12
Arizona
Arizona State
Boise State
California
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
UCLA
USC
Utah
Washington
Washington State

Football (9-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
3 protected rivals (including the below)
6 rotating opponents
Everyone plays all other teams home-and-home every 4 years

Protected Opponents:
Arizona vs. Arizona State (The Territorial Cup)
California vs. Stanford (The Big Game)
Oregon vs. Oregon State (Formerly The Civil War)
UCLA vs. USC
Washington vs. Washington State (Apple Cup)

Thanksgiving Weekend Rivalries:
Arizona vs. Arizona State
Boise State vs. Utah
California vs. Stanford
Oregon vs. Oregon State
UCLA vs. USC
Washington vs. Washington State

Basketball (22-Game Double Round-Robin)

Format:
Play all 11 other teams home and away
Total = 22 conference games
Each team hosts 11 conference games per year

Final Weekend Matchups:
Arizona vs. Arizona State
California vs. Stanford
Boise State vs. Utah
Oregon vs. Oregon State
UCLA vs. USC
Washington vs. Washington State

Baseball (33-Game Round Robin)

Format:
Each team plays a 3-game weekend series vs. every other (11 × 3 = 33 games)
Home/away alternates each season
All teams face each other yearly

Protected Matchups:
Arizona vs. Arizona State
California vs. Stanford
Oregon vs. Oregon State
UCLA vs. USC
Washington vs. Washington State

Tournament:
Top 8 teams qualify for Pac-12 Baseball Tournament
Double elimination

SEC
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
LSU
Ole Miss
Mississippi State
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Football (9-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:

Protected Match Ups:
Alabama vs. Auburn (Iron Bowl)
Arkansas vs. LSU (Battle for the Golden Boot)
Florida vs. Georgia (World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party)
Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State (Egg Bowl)
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Thanksgiving Match Ups:
Alabama vs. Auburn
Arkansas vs. LSU
Clemson vs. South Carolina (non-conference)
Florida vs. Florida State (non-conference)
Georgia vs. Georgia Tech (non-conference)
Kentucky vs. Louisville (non-conference)
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Basketball (20-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
Play 7 teams twice (home and away) = 14 games
Play 6 teams once = 6 games
Rotate annually for full home-and-home every 3 years

Protected Home and Home Match Ups:
Alabama vs. Auburn
Arkansas vs. LSU
Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Florida vs. Georgia
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Final Weekend Match Ups:
Alabama vs. Auburn
Arkansas vs. LSU
Kentucky vs. Tennessee
Florida vs. Georgia
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt

Baseball (30-Game Conference Schedule)

Format:
3-game weekend series vs. 10 of 11 other teams = 30 games
Rotate 1 team off the schedule each season
Cycle home/away yearly

Protected Series:
Alabama vs. Auburn
Arkansas vs. LSU
Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Florida vs. Georgia
Ole Miss vs. Mississippi State
Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt

Tournament:
Top 8 teams in SEC Baseball Tournament
Double-elimination format or pool play