ESPN, while having tons of resources and content, is not preventing NBC, CBS, FOX or any other distributor from spending as big on other available content. The AAC, for example, will soon have its TV deal with ESPN expire. Every single distributor, including Netflix, Amazon, etc., will have an opportunity to bid on that content and offer what it feels is not only market value, but also the value they deem it appropriate for their network. If NBC thinks the AAC is worth $10 million per year, then so be it. Fox viewed the Big East as being $500 million over 12-years. ESPN didn't decide that.

Does ESPN hire coaches for certain programs? Does it tell those programs which recruits to take? Does it mandate compliance policy? Does it set admission standards? At the end of the day, every school and athletic program controls its own destiny. Any narrative that spins a corporate network as deciding how successful a program can be is short-sighted and foolish.