With new television contracts driving the most powerful schools together into super conferences, competition appears brisk. And it should only improve next year when the new College Football Playoff kicks in to drive even more interest.
But even with that, cracks are present that worry college athletic administrators.
A lot, in fact.
Attendance at Football Bowl Subdivision schools dipped to 45,274 fans per game in 2012, the lowest since 2003. It marked the second straight season where average attendance for FBS schools slipped.
The Southeastern Conference continued to lead the country with an average of 75,444, but it was its lowest attendance average since 2007. Nine of the 14 SEC schools showed attendance dips in 2012.
Florida showed a five-game improvement last season during the regular season, but the Gators saw home attendance drop by 1,500 per game. The Orlando Sentinel reported that the major reason that students leave games at venerable Ben Hill Griffin Stadium was spotty internet connectivity.
Texas led the Big 12 with an average attendance of 100,884, but anybody who was at the Longhorns' last home game of the season last year against TCU on Thanksgiving night would have noticed the large swaths of empty seats scattered across Darrell K. Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
A number of reasons have been blamed for the nationwide attendance erosion. But the core question is, can enough be done to get fans out of their creature comforts at home and back to stadiums.
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