College football just keeps taking its effed-up-ness to new levels of greed, disarray, and exclusivity. It's like nobody, no governing body can step in and make sense of it. It's clear as day now that the SEC and Big Ten are the only first tier, major conferences left. The Big 12 is struggling to keep up the appearance that they're still relevant as a power conference. But let's be real. Once Texas and Oklahoma left, that ended that idea. Same for the Pac 12 when USC and UCLA fled to the Big Ten, if the handwriting wasn't already on the wall. The ACC is in a slightly better position, but that could soon end if teams like Clemson, Florida State, and Miami look for and find greener pastures to roam in.
There isn't anything left that resembles the greater good in play.
As a UW fan, it seems like getting into the Big Ten conference is the only avenue left for them to sustain their relevance as a top tier football college and potential destination for top recruits over the long term.
What a mess.
We've got a really good team this year. But after this year, all bets are off. Uncertainty over the program will abound for purely structural reasons.