The concepts surrounding the modern college football game underwent a transformation during the 1980s. Newer technologies became more readily available, and the advent of cable television made specialized programming easier to consume. The popularity of previously-untouched sectors of American life exploded, and the economic awakening in the country gave rise to a more open society where people spent their money on fast-developing goods and services.
College football was right in the middle of the revolution after selected schools successfully sued the NCAA over its broadcast plan for the sport. By the middle part of the decade, the forced decentralization allowed conferences and schools to sign their own media rights contracts, and the impact on every sector in the United States became obvious as the localized college teams gained more exposure and popularity.