The SEC expanded, the B12 formed, the B10 took in Penn St, the ACC took in FSU, etc. The bigger schools have been consolidating their power for a long while now, and the entire landscape of college football is completely different now.

Used to be schools made money off of tickets and donations. Having and filling a 65K stadium like BYU did meant something back then. Now they get $30 million just from TV. The game has changed, and not necessarily for the better.