Because you don't have a conference each game matters more than the sum of its parts...

So as to say, there aren't traditional rivalries with the majority of the teams on the schedule (no consistency playing those teams has been built-up like you would have in a conference). Because there isn't a level of familiarity with the opposing team/fans it matters a bit more *who* you're playing.

The extremely slim chance of appearing in the play-off doesn't help either. This has been well stated, but once you get that first loss on the season, you're playing in whatever bowl game was contracted for that year. There's no impetus to beat the remaining teams on the schedule or be "good" fans and support the team to win more games for a better bowl game. Get to six wins (and given the "lesser" teams on the schedule that's almost always doable) and you're going bowling.

Basically, there isn't anything exciting in the "post-season" to push fans to want to sit through randomly selected opponents some of which are terrible. In the Alabama example, every game matters and means the difference between division/conference/national championships.

Just my observation.