Part 1/9:

The Fall from Grace of Autonomy Conference Schools

College sports has long been associated with competitive powerhouses that dominate the sport, often leaving less heralded schools in their shadows. Institutions like Alabama, Kentucky, and Michigan firmly establish their dominance in the NCAA, leading to a phenomenon known as the “power five” conferences. However, there are schools that, despite residing within these high-profile conferences, have experienced significant downturns — some transitioning from autonomy conference status to mid-major obscurity.