Most of these schools would have their deficits in the black if they could ride the coat tails of big conference schools. For example I bet Washington State and maybe even Utah would be in the red if it wasn't for the revenue they siphon from the big PAC12 schools. Same goes for schools like Iowa State in the Big12, Vandy in the SEC and so on.

Throw UAB as a door mat program in the SEC and poof! Their problems are solved as they collect a big paycheck thanks to the TV sharing revenue generated from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and etc.