Well, I think perspective is everything.
We view our peers (at an institutional level) as schools like Maryland, Virginia, Arizona State, etc.
The rest of the Big East views their peers as schools like St. Louis, St. Bonaventure, Belmont, Drake, etc.
Those schools probably get around $1M - $2M per year (and possibly less) from their media rights deals, and are able to make it work. The small private schools in the Big East getting 5X+ that amount must feel like royalty with a $7 million per year media contract. It’s leaps and bounds beyond their institutional peers.
Edit:
@superjohn , this, above, is why they would be thrilled with $7 million. They are making a TON more than any other non-football league (leagues many of the current members came from a decade ago).