The Associated Press's Eric Olson and Ralph D. Russo published a piece titled "Ranking the top 25 changes coming to college football in 2024" and listed Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC higher than the Big Ten adding Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC.
Texas and OU to the SEC was listed at No. 4 while the B1G bringing the four west coast schools to a predominantly Midwestern conference was listed at No. 5.
Ranked at No. 1 was an obvious one: The College Football Playoff expanding from four to 12 teams. No. 2 was the 2024 season being the longest from Week 0 to the national championship game ever. No. 3 was postseason games being played on campus.
Texas and Oregon have highest realignment value but Oklahoma laps Washington, USC, and UCLA
The crown jewel of the realignment that went into effect this summer was Texas, but Oregon is up there. The Ducks don't have a rich history like the Longhorns do, but Oregon does have premium NIL value with its Nike ties.
Texas and Oregon have the highest value of any schools that made the great leap to the Power 2 this offseason, but Oklahoma isn't all that far behind them. There is a massive gap between OU and Washington, though, and then an even greater difference between the Huskies and USC and UCLA.
Ultimately, the Red River Rivalry is a bigger boon to the SEC than adding Oregon, Washington, and a couple of has-beens from the Pac-12. The B1G might still perennially be Ohio State's conference to lose -- with Michigan, Penn State, and Iowa always remaining relevant -- but Texas will be a threat to Georgia, Alabama, and LSU from the jump in the SEC and once Oklahoma figures it out under Brent Venables or his successor, the Sooners will be too.
It's not clear if Washington, UCLA, or USC will ever be more than one-year wonders in the Big Ten.