a seat at the table, which in turn certainly makes it harder to configure the contract in such a way that the big dogs can rest assured that their seat is guaranteed, and ESPN can rest assured that they aren't in a position of being required to invite OrSt or Wazzu, both of which might have losing records, to the CFP.
Put it this way: what's the guarantee that the SEC will still exist in 5-10 years? It certainly is not inconceivable that the top of the SEC and top of the B1G might decide to break off to form a super league outside of the NCAA in the next 5-10 years. And then what? ESPN is stuck broadcasting the NIT at NCAA tourney rates?