If all the activity surrounding the politicos involvement in this process is accurately recorded in this article (which I doubt because reporters conveniently leave out information that could reduce the emotional interest in a story) we see some insight in how this process works.
My impression from this article. McConnell knows someone affiliated with the B12, Hance. McConnell and Hance are familiar with one another and are friends. The excuse about traveling distance to WV by Hance is the stated rationalization the ex congressman has to make to justify his backing of Louisville. He can't publicly claim the two of them (McConnell and Hance) probably worked together to get pork for Hance's district and that McConnell is calling in a favor. I don't know if this is true, but I suspect that something like this is the basis for certain deals.
If the above is accurate, then all of our analysis of markets, football vs. bb, team history, the BCS value a team provides and even the $$ of media contracts are over complications of the process. I would say things boil down to egos and relationships. It is all about who is running things and what they like or prefer.
