There used to be a lot of conference pride in the Big 8...
Posted on: February 20, 2020 at 08:56:12 CT
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much like the SEC. I remember in 1971 when NU, OU and CU finished one, two, three in the final wire service rankings. I don't believe any other conference has accomplished that feat.
You're right when you say the addition of the Texas schools, especially UT, ruined the Big 8. It also destroyed the Southwest Conference, which was also pretty good in its day. Plus, it rendered the annual Red River Shootout less appealing, because conference pride was no longer at stake.
Finally, I contend that lucrative and exclusive TV deals like Notre Dame's contract with NBC and UT's Longhorn Network actually do more harm than good for those institutions. Neither Notre Dame nor Texas has been as good since signing those deals as a sense of entitlement has permeated both programs.