I would put Tech in the same category as someone like a Michigan State or a South Carolina. Big enough brand and alumni network that they can retain a seat at the table if they have one, but not big enough to muscle their way in if they don’t. Their fundamental problem is that the SEC and B1G seats are now thrones and all other seats have a wobbly leg.
So the only real option is to try to spend their way into long term relevance. They are lucky that they have sugar daddies willing to do that. An interesting aspect of the current landscape is that there will be programs that are not traditional powers that can gain relevance just by virtue of a fortunate NIL situation. SMU, UNC, maybe Duke - programs like that.
Obviously we are not in yet in the final form of college football. One day the music will stop, and every program will be on one side or the other of a line drawn in the sand. It’s easy for us as Texas fans - we were born on one side of the line and we’re going to stay there forever. Tech knows that they have spent their whole life hanging around in the vicinity of the line.