The networks will be very interested in (and invested in) the OOC scheduling references/suggestions.
2024 Week 2, Texas/Michigan: 9.19M
2025 Week 1 TV ratings/viewers:
Texas-Ohio State (FOX): 16.623M
Notre Dame-Miami (ABC, Sunday): 10.800M
Alabama-Florida State (ABC): 10.700M
LSU-Clemson (ABC): 10.400M
TCU-North Carolina (ESPN, Monday): 6.184M
South Carolina-Virginia Tech (ESPN, Sunday): 5.400M
Georgia Tech-Colorado (ESPN, Friday): 3.700M
Nebraska-Cincinnati (ESPN, Thursday): 3.300M
South Dakota-Iowa State (FOX): 3.044M
Auburn-Baylor (FOX, Friday): 2.832M
Syracuse-Tennessee (ABC): 2.600M
Some other random OOC games
Michigan - OU: 9.7M
UND-aTm: 6.2M
Wisconsin-Bama: 4.5M
ISU-Iowa: 4.28M
SJSU - Texas: 3.7M
If Texas had scheduled Purdue or Michigan State instead of tOSU in week 1, Texas now sits at 10-2 and that game likely sees around 10M fewer viewers. The networks would not appreciate it...