I thought Ok State started the change
The change started when one single rule changed -- the OL downfield rule.
I didn't understand the impact at the time. But when the 1-yard rule / 2.5-3 yard enforcement changed to a 3-yard rule/ 5-6 yard enforcement, the game was never going to be the same.
Without that change, none of the basketball-on-grass / Malzahn / Chip Kelly / Okie State / Big 12-2 stuff works. At all.
Personally, I don't enjoy a 45-38 game. Give me 24-17, or even 13-7, every time. I know I'm in the minority on that, but I predict that college football loses the OFC.
Trouble there is that the OFC donates and shows up for games. Whereas, relatively speaking, the Gen-Xers and Millenials don't give a dime, and leave early if they show up at all.
I'm not going to debate all the social reasons why those circumstances exist. My point is that they do exist.
If the OFC collectively gets bored, quits cutting checks, and quits showing up, college football doesn't exist in anything approaching its current form.
I'll grant you, I don't envy today's ADs. But they're going to have a choice to make.