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Kirk Herbstreit offers prediction for future conference landscape of college football

Paul Harvey

By Paul Harvey

Published:

Kirk Herbstreit is among the people most connected to the sport of college football. Now, the popular analyst and co-host of College GameDay has a prediction for the conference landscape of college football.

On Monday, Herbstreit joined the cast of ESPN’s First Take to discuss the ongoing realignment saga. He also had an interesting prediction.

According to Herbstreit, he believes college football will eventually be left with 3 “power conferences.” He also expects those conferences to have around 20 teams apiece, creating an interesting scenario for the teams that get left out of mix.

“The more I listen, the more I’m talking to people, I wouldn’t be surprised if we settle ultimately on 3 power conferences,” Herbstreit said.

“Just for argument’s sake, if (Notre Dame) does give in and go to the Big Ten. That would give the B1G 17 teams. You know the B1G’s gonna go get one more or two more, right?

“Whoever’s left when the dust settles – they don’t go into the B1G, they don’t go into the SEC. I think there’s a good chance we’re gonna end up with 3 power conferences of right around 20 teams. And what I want to know is what’s going to happen to those teams that get left out.”

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.