realize all the teams set their goals to do so but it was always a national ranking or beating a team with a national ranking that I looked forward to. I can't imagine that too many teams would be truly motivated by a MWC or AAC championship after losing a couple of games and knowing a NY6 bowl is likely not happening.
There is something left to play for and that's a bowl game. Teams are constantly measure by getting to a bowl game. Basically having a winning season. In my mind that is a lot to play for still. Why would you ever check out and not care if you had a losing season or not? In fact, why would anyone check out and not care if there are still games to be played? Real competitors are motivated by ANY win or to keep from losing ANY competition.