To piggyback on that, Ohio State has the #1 best outcome from traditional program situations: being the only P5 program in a state that populous.
CA has 4
TX has 5 (and as many as 8 in the past)
FL has 3
PA has 2 (up to 3)
MI has 2
GA has 2
IL has 2
NC has 4
VA has 2
NY doesn't care about football
For the state of Ohio to have 1 P5 program isn't really fair. I'm not whining, but it is a major inherent advantage.
Little states like MS, SC, IA, KS, OK having two harms both programs in each. It's crazy.
OH has 11 million people. Ignoring new england, the next most-populous state with 1 P5 program is....Missouri, with 6 million ppl. Basically half.
Is anyone aware of any legislation in the past of OSU blocking other programs' attempts to rise up, in-state? If I had that kind of benefit, I'd fight tooth-and-nail to keep it.