[CTcard]

#1) ...  Even if SEC schools had $20M  more, I think Pac-12 student-athletes get better medical care, they get a better education, they get a more beautiful campus, and probably better training facilities. 

I think you are making a lot of unsubstantiated assumptions here.

I don't know anything that suggests any of those things are true overall, at least outside of my own (and probably your) personal opinion that west coast scenery is substantially better than southeastern.

[And several of those items depend upon financial resources, so even if the SEC has a deficit that would presumably change as they continually rake in substantially more dollars.]

What keeps the Pac 12 competitive on the field is that recruiting is overwhelmingly local, and there is enough high school football in the west to keep up the talent level at least for one conference.

#3) My hopeful news is that I think the tide will turn and the industry's economics and demographics will  favor the Pac-12... eventually.

I don't see any form of industry economics that will favor teams with a small fan base over teams with a larger, more dedicated fan base.

[CTcard]

#1) ...  Even if SEC schools had $20M  more, I think Pac-12 student-athletes get better medical care, they get a better education, they get a more beautiful campus, and probably better training facilities. 

I think you are making a lot of unsubstantiated assumptions here.

I don't know anything that suggests any of those things are true overall, at least outside of my own (and probably your) personal opinion that west coast scenery is substantially better than southeastern.

[And several of those items depend upon financial resources, so even if the SEC has a deficit that would presumably change as they continually rake in substantially more dollars.]

What keeps the Pac 12 competitive on the field is that recruiting is overwhelmingly local, and there is enough high school football in the west to keep up the talent level at least for one conference.

#3) My hopeful news is that I think the tide will turn and the industry's economics and demographics will  favor the Pac-12... eventually.

I don't see any form of industry economics that will favor teams with a small fan base over teams with a larger, more dedicated fan base.