re: Did Bama save college football?

No. ESPN did by diluting the Bowl system and making it invaluable. The old system, while it was stupid, made the primary goal selling tickets at the gate by getting two high profile teams. Now the primary motive is to get the most tv ratings. In both system you have to reward the facade of play on the field at first, but the mystique of the bowls is lost on a whole generation of people. No one cares.