What is a Power Four School? NCAA Track & Field Conferences Explained

Sept 2025 - This article explains what Power Four schools are, the impact of NCAA conference realignment, and how this affects recruiting for track and field and cross country athletes. While Power Four programs typically have more resources and higher visibility, many non–Power Four schools consistently produce national champions and All-Americans. The key takeaway: athletes should focus on finding the program that best fits their academic, athletic, and personal goals, not just the conference label.

Like many other Division I sports, NCAA track and field is dominated by the “Power Conferences”. These are the four athletic conferences that make up what is now called the Power Four:

Until 2024, this group was known as the “Power Five.” After a major NCAA realignment, nearly all teams from the Pac-12 were absorbed into the other four conferences. For example, Stanford and Cal (Berkeley) joined the ACC, while Oregon and USC moved to the Big Ten. Each of the four conferences picked up at least one Pac-12 team, reshaping the NCAA landscape.

In most sports, including track and field, these conferences consistently produce some of the best athletes in the NCAA. At the 2025 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, only six of the 42 event titles were won by athletes outside of the Power Four.

Why the Power Four Matters

Now, does this mean you must compete in a Power Four program to succeed? Absolutely not. What it does mean is that the majority of NCAA athletic talent is concentrated in these conferences, across nearly every sport.

Power Four schools are often large universities with huge budgets. Take the University of Alabama (SEC), for example: in 2024, their athletic department brought in more than $234 million in revenue. While that’s on the extreme side, it illustrates the kind of resources these schools can provide. In fact, in 2024 there were 28 universities with athletic revenues over $150 million, all were Power Four schools.

This financial backing usually translates into:

More funding for facilities and equipment
Larger coaching staffs
Better travel budgets and support resources
High visibility for athletes on national stages

How Cross Country and Track Differ from Other Sports

While football, basketball, and baseball titles are almost always won by Power Four teams, track and field, and especially cross country, paint a slightly different picture.

In football, the last non–Power Four champion was Miami in 2001 (then in the Big East).
In men’s basketball, 8 of the 10 programs with the most NCAA titles are from Power Four schools. The same is true in women’s basketball.
In baseball, only 4 of the last 25 championships have been won by non–Power Four programs.

But in cross country:

Only 2 of the last 10 men’s team titles were won by Power Four schools.
4 of the last 10 men’s individual titles came from Power Four athletes.
On the women’s side, non–Power Four schools have also claimed multiple team and individual championships in the past decade.

Programs like Northern Arizona, New Mexico, Harvard, Iona, and Villanova have all produced national champions and dozens of All-Americans.

The Bottom Line: Fit Matters More Than Conference

Yes, Power Four schools tend to attract more talent and have deeper resources. But being in one doesn’t guarantee success, just as being outside of them doesn’t guarantee limitations.

For example:

USC and Oregon (Big Ten) produce All-Americans every year.
Meanwhile, the University of Maryland (Big Ten) hasn’t had an All-American in track and field since 2018.

The takeaway: Don’t choose a school just because it’s in the Power Four. Instead, focus on:

Academic fit
Coaching staff and philosophy
Event group strength and funding
Future teammates and training culture
Location and lifestyle fit

Your success comes down to finding the right program for you.

Identify the Best Track and Field or Cross Country Program for your Goals.

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