Despite what the national narrative might be, what if I told you there was still college football being played the way it’s always been played, where the transfer portal, NIL, or even pro players trying to come back for another season is nearly nonexistent, or what if I told you that most of these places reside in small towns across the country, where the communities all shut down for the game, and the product on the field is the same football we all know and have loved for generations, from most of the G6 ranks, to FCS, Division 2, Division 3, and Juco ball, the sport of college football has never been better at those levels. 

For some, the thought of watching anything less than the Power Four or really the SEC or Big 10 conferences feels like something that’s below them, and for those, we should hold with pity as they are missing a whole world of College Football that delivers most nights without the high-dollar budgets, NIL, or even the talking heads; it’s just good old-fashioned college football from communities around the country that what they lack in funds, often deliver a solid product that a good number of people are starting to take notice that college football at the hightest level might be broken, but outside of the Power Four, college football is still college football. 

From personal experience, since I started covering college football ten years ago, some of my best experiences have been below the Power Four level, with programs, fans, and players who are thankful there’s someone interested in their respective schools, and that’s not a knock on the SEC and Big 10, but with all the modern issues going on with NIL, pro players trying to come back and play college ball, or even the transfer portal making it next to impossible to know the guys on the roster from year to year, all of that has driven this awkening across a large portion of college football fans to follow college football on a smaller scale. Across the board, there’s the G6, FCS, D2, D3, NAIA, and Juco, all of which provide a more economical way of enjoying college football. 

As far as coverage goes, as we’ve seen with all the high-volume college football influencers, the thought of the G6, or anything below the G6, is considered to be not good enough for football to even have coverage of. However, for those of us who have actually experienced the different levels of college football, we understand that at the bare minimum it’s still football- the same rules, the same tactics, everything- and maybe the skill set might be a tad different; yet some folks like to write off success at these levels as nothing more than a precursor to the Head Coach or best player on the roster taking the next step into the bright lights of the P4 level. However, what those folks don’t seem to understand is that the grass at the top might not be as green as it looks and more often than not, there’s nothing wrong with staying put and blooming where you’re planted. For some of those folks, having the shows on ESPN, Fox, or the other big-budget sports media companies will get in the way of the judgment, while the rest of us go out to these communities and embrace college football at all levels. 

So, what makes non-Power Four football different? It’s not in the money; it’s in the people. It’s the pure nature of the sport with rosters filled mostly with guys who are out there for the love of the game, and with the latest announcement from YouTubeTV that all the games that are streamed on ESPN Plus can now be watched inside of the YouTubeTV app while also having the opportunity to pick and choose which games you want with the customiable YouTube TV multiview option, with that will likley come an uptick in viewing as those games will now be more streamlined and accessbile to the everyday person. With more eyes on those levels of college football, it will likely lead to more fans and more people realizing the true beauty of non-Power Four football. 

Also, football outside that level is different. Comes down to the financial impact on the everyday family and the difference in levels of college football. Going to a Power Four college football game is expensive; tickets often range from 50 for non-conference and conference games to 75-150 in most places, and with parking and concessions, a normal family will have to drop several hundred dollars just to attend a game at that level. At the non- Power Four level, you’ll often find discounted tickets, cheaper or free parking, and more reasonable concession prices, giving the everyday family a chance to attend a college football game for less than a hundred dollars. Take Memphis, for example: in honor of September 1st, or 901 Day as it’s known in Memphis, they’re offering Memphis football tickets for $9.01 for the rivalry game against Arkansas State on Saturday night. Or last Thursday night at UT Martin, where a top-25 FCS matchup ticket cost a family member of mine 20$ to attend in the general admission section with free parking; those types of deals are all over the country, in just about every community, there’s some level of college football to enjoy even on a budget. 

At the end of the day, there’s nothing wrong with Power Four college football, but football is played elsewhere too, and contrary to some popular belief, it’s still football: it has the same rules, it has championships, and it provides a fun Saturday for families. Coming from someone who has seen football at all the levels, often more times than not, a day at a non-Power Four program is often refreshing and leaves my inner football soul fulfilled as it takes me back to a time when college football was just college football. My advice? Find a non-Power Four program at any level near you and spend a day watching that team play football or really any sport. I guarantee you’ll feel a sense of belonging and happiness like you did before all the craziness of modern Power-Four sports. Still be a fan of whatever major program you’re a fan of; just give the others a chance while you’re at it, and if you enjoy it, invest a little bit and buy the season ticket, or make a small donation to whatever that school has- just a suggestion, you can head my advice or not, but the fact of the matter is, there’s still high level college football being played elsewhere for half the cost. Why not take your family and friends out to one of those games and get back to the fundamental love we all have for the sport?