The Year College Football Entered The Modern Era

1984

The modern history of college football really began on June 27, 1984.

That’s the day that the famous NCAA v Board Of Regents Of University of Oklahoma ruling came from the Supreme Court.

The impact was immediate and remarkable.

Before 1984, teams had been limited to 6 broadcasts every 2 years, most of which were on regional television. National television broadcasts were limited to the most recognizable teams. Theoretically, this system was designed to protect the smaller schools. In reality, however, it merely entrenched the dominance of schools such as Notre Dame, Texas, Oklahoma, and other “blue bloods.”

I don’t remember anything before 1984, largely because I was born in 1984. It’s bizarre for me to think of a time when there was only one college football game on television a week. It seems unnatural.

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of that season, I’m planning on going through every 1984 game I can find on a week by week basis. We’ll see what surprises and forgotten moments we discover.