Big 12 Head Coach Predicts Massive Change For Future Of College Football

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes thinks major changes are on the way for college football in the coming years.

The Horned Frogs coach foresees the Power 4 and Group of 5 schools separating into two divisions. This potential split comes as talks of compensating college athletes grow louder around the country.

Dykes referenced how the gap in talent between schools such as Alabama and Louisiana Tech is so vast that it’s almost as if they aren’t playing the same sport.

“There’s got to be a split eventually,” Dykes told Dave Campbell’s Texas Football ’s Mike Craven. “There is such a big difference right now between the haves and the have-nots, and I think we’ll eventually split into two separate divisions. Alabama and Louisiana Tech aren’t playing the same sport.”

Dykes also mentioned how paying players could cause even more players from smaller schools to transfer to a school in a Power 4 conference. A standout season from a promising player could mean that he'll be transferring the following year, which makes it hard to build a program.

“These jobs are even harder now because if one of your players has a great season, he’s probably getting plucked away,” Dykes said. “Your only chance is to build a great culture and hope that keeps most of your roster intact.”

There have already been changes to college football ahead of the 2024 season already. Texas and Oklahoma are off to the SEC. Washington, USC, UCLA, and Oregon will all be competing in the Big Ten. Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, and Colorado are joining the Big 12. Finally, Cal and Stanford have now moved to the ACC.

The two remaining Pac-12 schools, Oregon State and Washington State had to scramble to make up for their lack of conference games. In 2024, these two programs will add games from teams in the Mountain West Conference. The Beavers will play seven MWC opponents this season, and the Cougars are set to face eight MWC foes.

If what Dykes is predicting happens, college football will be changed forever.

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