When I was a kid there were a handful of bowl games. The big ones were the Rose, Orange, Sugar and Cotton. There were a few smaller ones too like the Holiday Bowl, the Sun Bowl, the Gator Bowl, the Independence Bowl. And we'd also have the Blue-Gray game. That was about it. Now, they are all corporate sponsored, and look the same. Just another game to help make money.
Speaking of Boise State going to the Pac-12... Don't be at all surprised if within the next five years we end up with four or so 16-team Superconferences. We'll have the SEC, Pac-16, the Big 12 and Big 10 merge (or one swallows the other), the AAC and Big East merge, etc. Then, as the 4-team playoff contract starting next season ends, the next contract will be 4 superconference winners seeded headed to an 8-team playoff. With four other teams as wildcards, some from the superconferences, some not. I didn't come up with this on my own, but it's been alluded to by others in various forms, and this just makes total logical sense, both in terms of what fans want, and what will benefit the schools, and financially for all of NCAA football. The only negative, if there is one, is that you'll see less purity of unbeaten teams, and the kids will be playing tougher games overall. But we're headed that direction anyway.
A few years ago Peterson said he wasn't interested in leaving, but things change, and he sees the same writing on the wall I do. ALL the big teams, money, and accolades will be in the Superconferences. You just wait and see. Washington is already there. Boise is on the outside looking in (but should lobby to get into the Pac-12, next expansion in a year or two).
The next step beyond there is some sort of contract allowing student-athletes to be paid a portion of sponsorship money, and independent earnings, as long as they meet certain academic and ethical guidelines.