The gap between the bigger football programs was widening throughout the 1970's and early 1980's. I remember Tech blowing out both Richmond and William & Mary in 1983. Except for the Richmond upset in 1985 and the JMU upset in 2010, Tech has had an easy time with FCS (1-AA) schools.

By the late 1980's, the writing was on the wall that remaining a football independent wouldn't bode well in the future. That's when you started to see FSU, Penn State, and USC-east join conferences.

I agree that we are approaching another separation in D-1 football. I also believe that the most of the top level FCS programs and about 75% of the non-Power 65 schools will form a new division between the present FBS and FCS. The FCS will continue to have its playoff system while the new D-1 division will probably have an 8 to 16 team playoff represented by the lower bowls. I can see most of the Sun Belt, MAC, CUSA, and top tier FCS schools from the Big Sky, MVC, CAA, SoCon, .... in the new division. Maybe something like 72-80 schools in the Power 5, 60-72 in the new (middle) division, and the rest of D-1 in the FCS (with a few D-2 newcomers to FCS).