I was watching some highlights last night and it got me thinking about how much the soul of college sports has shifted lately. It feels like every program is chasing these massive, flashy matchups against powerhouse schools from across the country just to get the TV eyeballs and the prestige.
Don't get me wrong, seeing the big names is cool, but there’s something special about those gritty, local rivalries where everyone in the city or the state actually cares. I remember growing up, a matchup against a neighbor school felt like a massive event because it wasn't just a game—it was a matter of local bragging rights. Now, it feels like we're trading those deep-rooted traditions for one-off spectacles that don't mean much to the actual fanbase once the weekend is over.
I honestly think we’re losing the "neighborhood" feel of the sport by constantly trying to go national. If you're always playing teams from three time zones away, do you even have a local identity anymore?
Do you guys prefer the big-name national matchups, or do you think we should be leaning harder into regional rivalries to keep the atmosphere alive?
Don't get me wrong, seeing the big names is cool, but there’s something special about those gritty, local rivalries where everyone in the city or the state actually cares. I remember growing up, a matchup against a neighbor school felt like a massive event because it wasn't just a game—it was a matter of local bragging rights. Now, it feels like we're trading those deep-rooted traditions for one-off spectacles that don't mean much to the actual fanbase once the weekend is over.
I honestly think we’re losing the "neighborhood" feel of the sport by constantly trying to go national. If you're always playing teams from three time zones away, do you even have a local identity anymore?
Do you guys prefer the big-name national matchups, or do you think we should be leaning harder into regional rivalries to keep the atmosphere alive?