They could spend all the money in the world, but they're still both located in a big metro area with a pro football team. This, in and of itself, is not a guaranteed killer of a football program; USC and Miami are the big exceptions that come to mind. But they're exceptions to the rule, and if you fit in that category, your margin for error is basically zero. If you're a college football program in a major metro with an NFL franchise, you have to win and win big, or you're a non-factor when it comes to interest. And, let's be honest here - Miami has experienced great success this year in the CFP, but neither they nor USC have been a major factor on the national stage in 20+ years otherwise. The last time USC was a national power, LA didn't have an NFL franchise; now they have two - I think the corresponding impact on USC's ability to drive interest speaks for itself.