conferences could still have those conference wins with teams that provide more in the way of fan appeal and fan base. Also, the SEC has rightly figured that only 8 conference games is the correct number. It provides and equal number of road and home games along with fewer conference losses overall. Nine conference games is just silly IMO.

Let's not forget that football is by far the big dog in TV negotiations with basketball being a minor part. Regardless of that, a few of your examples are understandable in Kansas and Kentucky which are household names but teams like Oregon St, Wash St, or Iowa St are nothing but dead weight IMO.