The issue is perception. When the media members pump up the value of SEC and B1G teams all year the perception is that they are better and more valuable. So when it comes to selecting teams they have built up bias from the start.So, if I were to understand correctly, the SEC viewership would have to exceed that of the ACC or B12. Right? I can only see ESPN wanting that if 'local advertising' is the cash cow. However, I believe in the playoffs the national advertising will be the cash cow. Who cares where they get the money from, just as long as they get it. Also, if there's too much B1G and SEC, how many fans/revenue will be lost at the end of their regular season due to the "why pay now when I can watch them in the playoffs" attitude. Of course, I'm an advocate for parity and I think favoritism is the natural enemy of that. Somewhere, some bean counters will be figuring this out season by season.
I mean look at the preseason rankings, as some have said the SEC is starting from 3rd base, when we havent even gotten up to bat.
The viewership is also going to exceed the B12 when they put the SEC and B1G in the preferred high value slots more often. Then they promote that the SEC game got a much higher viewership, not mentioning the average difference of a game in the best slot vs a game in the worst spot, regardless of the team.
Put Georgia on ESPN+ and it will have a lot lower viewership than when they are on ABC prime slot. But they will still promote how high the Viewership is for Georgia was vs ISU on ESPN+.
Its all about gaming the system and they do it well.