25 biggest college football storylines for the 2022 season

19. Does realignment take a pause?

Last summer, it was the shocking decision by Big 12 royalty Texas and Oklahoma to begin their process of leaving their conference for the SEC. This caused a ripple that immediately led the Big 12 to take Cincinnati, UCF, Houston, and BYU into their conference. Make no mistake, this will inevitably kill any hope for the Group of Five to get a bid into the playoffs in the future.

This summer we saw the Big Ten take the heart out of the Pac-12, stealing UCLA and the crown jewel USC Trojans. This has caused much unrest throughout college football, as it appears we may be heading towards a two mega conference with the Big Ten and the SEC.

As the ACC, Pac-12, and Big 12 scramble, the holy grail that is Notre Dame remains. With the unrest at an all-time high, will we see more movement this fall? Notre Dame’s decision could become the ultimate domino effect unless schools like Oregon and Washington decide to take matters into their own hands.

If I was a betting man (I am), I’d put money on more secret conversations, reports, and whispers of movement during the season, casting a cloud over the year in a way.

It appears the college football we all grew up with is changing, and it is tough to see. I remember waking up on New Year’s Day excited to watch the classic Rose Bowl and the following BCS Bowls the next few days. I appreciated the tradition of the bowl tie-ins. I appreciated not knowing the negative effects of a playoff.

I also understand change is needed. We’re seeing a change that is mostly fueled by money, but by also great teams going to historically stronger conferences. USC playing Michigan and Ohio State, while Oklahoma plays Georgia and LSU is going to be good for the game and fans. It will be jarring for most people that remember college football before the CFP, but it is the way of the future. Adapt or die — like certain conferences.