New York Post may be compensated and/or receive an affiliate commission if you click or buy through our links. Featured pricing is subject to change.

For so many years, college football’s national championship chase was a charade. Legitimate title hopes belonged to a handful of elite programs.

Then, the transfer portal revived the Wild West, and NIL professionalized the sport, preventing traditional powers from hoarding the best talent, allowing five-star backups to accept starring roles and seven-figure salaries.

If money and school-hopping (and conference realignment) have stripped much of the romance from college football, they have also introduced an intoxicating era of possibility.

No. 16 Virginia (6-1) is in the mix for its first conference title in 30 years. No. 14 Texas Tech

See Full Page