This entire conference blows. I can’t stand any team or fan, regardless of team.
GBR
I think we are beginning to see the effects of a bunch of phenomena that are going to doom college football as a national sport:
1. Fewer kids play...we are starting to see the first age groups where kids and parents had to consider brain health.
2. Transfer rules...many more kids transfer, do not develop in a consistent program and system, and we are seeing younger kids playing big time minutes...which in general means a crappier product. Just because freshman are all-conference and heisman considerations doesn't mean they are better than guys 10+ years ago.
3. Academic rules...every conference has final adjusted to the academic rules laid down a decade or more ago...teams are taking fewer chances on explosive talent that might not make it in the classroom.
4. Covid opt outs and sitouts...
This has lead to a major lack of depth, and huge holes in the rosters. Every league has bad football right now...but I believe we are seeing the beginning of CF becoming a regional sport. In person attendance was already plummeting before covid...now people will go a year without...and then face increased ticket prices when it resumes. The product is weakening in the big 10, pac 10, ACC and Big 12. Fewer kids are going out, stadiums are empty, and the arms race is still expensive. We will start to see programs like Colorado, Rutgers, Washington state fold up. Conferences will contract, then combine...and the sport will most likely become a southern experience...I also think the game will become much more wide open...less physical...and much more like basketball...rules will make it faster paced and put an even greater emphasis on speed and athletic ability. This will of course hurt areas outside the south.