You comparing the integrity of USC with that of SMU? Hypothetically, if both schools found their Miami billionaire sugar daddy would USC ask for a needed say Science Library or solely put the money into a football program? I’d wager SMU wouldn’t give it a second thought
Besides, the perennial top teams have State funding, they don’t have to balance finances like a private school does annually
And, SMU may make the playoffs via the ACC, which is full of competing private schools, but it will ever win a national championship