brand of the university. Sure, football is a big part of that brand. But, when money wasn't coming in from tv revenue and such, the school (i.e. taxpayers) supported the program.

It's fanbase largely draws from alumni and supporters of the school. It's brand is the school's brand.

State legislators can rescue the sport by reminding AD's where their bread is buttered.

They can easily, within their authority, demand full revenue sharing across all state schools. Or tie conference membership to other schools across the state.

They've largely been absent in all the realignment nonsense, but now it's become the wild west and someone needs to step in and simply say, "The taxpayers are not going to subsidize a private jet from LA to New Jersey in November."

Without the brands of the schools themselves, they are the USFL.