I hate to burst your bubble, but what you stated isn't exactly true. In the 80s and 90s you got the game in Iowa every week. If outside of Iowa you got it if the networks carried it. So basically more often then not you did not get the game if you lived outside of Iowa, whether it was football or hoops, but if in Iowa you got them all.
Now, if you are in Iowa you still get it but you have to pay for the BTN and that costs a little bit, not exactly costing a whole lot more. If you are outside of Iowa it is on every week, as long as you pay for the BTN (not an option in the 80s and 90s) as long as you can find it on the weeks it is on the overflow channel, as I guess it is possible some cable companies might not have it.
You have to be a little tech savvy, but if you pay a little extra a month for seven months you get everything for football and basketball. And in the grand scheme of things BTN is not that expensive but DRASTICALLY increases viewing options for those outside of Iowa, while simply costing a little ore for those in Iowa.