It has changed a ton though. A lot of big programs were independent in the 80s, and it was a benefit for them. They could play a couple of big games a year and that was all they really had to do. They didn't have to play teams that are familiar with their style of play every year either. Now, there isn't a quality independent left, or that has been relevant since being an independent stopped being "cool". All head coaches of any prominent program should have NATIONAL TITLE headlined in their team goals. But to do that you must win the conference first to get there. Its just not as arbitrary as it used to be, nor as easy because of that.