Beyond your due?
Maybe, just maybe..those teams that have spent a century building a brand, that draw national interest, should make the money.
I love South Alabama and Georgia Southern but when they invest another 50 or more years into program building, build huge fan bases, build national interest, build competitive programs, they too, will draw enough national interest to warrant the media dollars that an Alabama or Ohio State can command. I love the dominance of South Dakota State, and that they know that they would just be another Buffalo in the higher classification.
True, the present conference system has skirt riders. A program like Indiana gets paid like Ohio State. And that is primarily a result of college football fandom and tradition. I wonder if NFL fans pull as hard for other teams in their division/league as do NCAA fans. Or place as much emphasis on cross league games.
132 teams is a ridiculous league. You can not have any semblance of parity. In strength, in interest, in resources....it must be condensed.
There is a reason that the NFL has 32 teams, not 100.
I am old enough to remember the pro football minor leagues. Heck, the older UConn goats may remember the Hartford Charter Oaks.
There were many pro minor league attempts...they all failed. The spot light gets smaller on the big stage.