Football is the only sport, college or pro, where every win is important...no other way around it.
as far as the NBA, NHL and MLB, unless your team is totally stinking up the joint right out of the gate (The Knicks), you shouldn't have to worry until after their All-Star Breaks...if your team is in the Easter Conference in the NBA, as it is right now, a sub .500 record could net you a 7 or 8 seed, so you don't have to fret that much. The Western Conference doesn't afford you that luxury, you have to be over .500 to make it in. I would say the MLB is more important than the NBA or NHL in record watching regards as they have 8 less teams in their playoff system.
College Basketball is kinda funny as you need a good record to make the tournament, but if you coast through the season and manage to win your conference tournament, you'll make it in regardless of your record.