College football is basically a giant game of musical chairs right now. Everyone focuses on the Big Ten or the SEC stealing big names, but honestly, the real chaos is happening in the Football Championship Subdivision. FCS football conference realignment isn't just about small schools trying to find a home. It’s a desperate, high-stakes scramble for survival, geography, and—occasionally—a shot at the big time.
You’ve probably seen the headlines. Sacramento State trying to go FBS. The WAC literally disappearing and rebranding. It’s a lot.
The Death of the WAC and the Birth of the All-Sports UAC
One of the wildest things happening in 2026 is the official end of the Western Athletic Conference as we knew it. If you’re a 90s kid, the WAC was a powerhouse. Now? It’s basically being swallowed. Starting July 1, 2026, the WAC is rebranding entirely as the United Athletic Conference (UAC).
This isn't just a name change.
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Previously, the UAC was just a football partnership between the ASUN and the WAC. Now, it's becoming a full-blown, all-sports conference. Schools like Abilene Christian, Tarleton State, and UT Arlington are joining up with the football-playing members of the ASUN—think Austin Peay, Eastern Kentucky, and Central Arkansas.
It’s a massive consolidation. By sticking together, these schools hope to protect their automatic bid to the NCAA playoffs. If they stayed split, they might have withered away.
Why the Big Sky is Getting Crowded
The Big Sky has always felt like the gold standard of the West. But it's losing a titan. Sacramento State is officially leaving the conference after the 2025-26 year. They’ve got their eyes on the FBS, but since their waiver to jump straight there was denied by the NCAA, they're heading into 2026 as an FCS Independent.
It’s a risky bet.
To fill that hole, the Big Sky is reaching back to some familiar faces. Southern Utah and Utah Tech are both joining the conference for the 2026 season. Southern Utah is returning "home" after a stint in the WAC/UAC, while Utah Tech is finally finding a stable landing spot after their long transition from Division II.
The Big Sky will have 13 football members in 2026. That’s an awkward number for scheduling. Expect a lot of "open" weeks and some creative midweek games as they try to make a 9-game conference schedule work.
The Patriot League’s Power Move
If you thought the Patriot League was just for quiet, academic-focused schools, think again. They are arguably the biggest "winners" in the 2026 realignment cycle.
They managed to snag Villanova and William & Mary from the CAA (Coastal Athletic Association). These are two heavyweights. Adding them to a roster that already includes Richmond (who joined in 2025) makes the Patriot League a legitimate multi-bid playoff threat.
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The CAA, meanwhile, is trying to plug the leaks. They’ve added Sacred Heart for 2026 to stay at 13 members. Sacred Heart had been wandering in the wilderness as an independent after leaving the NEC, so this is a lifeline for the Pioneers.
Realignment Winners and Losers for 2026
It's not all sunshine and expansion. Some programs are actually scaling back.
- Tennessee Tech is leaving the OVC-Big South partnership to join the SoCon. This is a great geographic fit, but it leaves the OVC-Big South combo with only eight members.
- Saint Francis University (PA) is making the rarest move of all: they are dropping from Division I to Division III after this season. It's a sobering reminder that the cost of scholarship football is becoming too much for some small private schools.
- Chicago State is the newcomer. They are launching a brand-new FCS program in 2026. They’ll play as an independent for a year before joining the NEC in 2027.
What This Means for the Playoffs
Geography used to be the main driver of FCS football conference realignment. Now, it’s about the "Power Four" of the FCS: the Big Sky, the Missouri Valley (MVFC), the SoCon, and now arguably the beefed-up Patriot League.
The Missouri Valley is also seeing a shift. With Missouri State leaving for the FBS (Conference USA) in 2025, the MVFC is leaning into its administrative partnership with the Summit League. They aren't adding new teams just yet, but the "Valley" is essentially circling the wagons to maintain its status as the toughest conference in the country.
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Practical Realities for Fans
If your school is moving, expect your Saturday traditions to change.
- Travel Costs: For schools moving into the UAC, fans are looking at flights to Kentucky or Arkansas instead of just driving across Texas.
- Streaming Chaos: Keep an eye on your subscriptions. Many of these moves are tied to new media deals (like the UAC’s push for more exposure). You might need ESPN+ more than ever.
- Scheduling Quirks: With 13-team leagues like the Big Sky and CAA, your favorite team might have a random bye week in mid-October because the math doesn't add up for a 12-team schedule.
Realignment is never really "over." As long as the FBS keeps poaching the top FCS schools (like Delaware and Missouri State recently), the dominoes will keep falling.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on the NEC and the Southland. Those conferences are currently the most vulnerable to poaching, which means they'll be the ones looking to raid the Division II ranks next.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the 2026 Schedules: If you follow a Big Sky or CAA team, the "Week 0" games are becoming more common to accommodate these larger conferences.
- Monitor Independent Status: Watch Sacramento State’s 2026 season closely; if they struggle to fill a schedule as an independent, it might serve as a warning to other schools thinking of leaving their conference safety net without a confirmed landing spot.