Yep, being in a major media market definitely makes both of these schools at least a bit "desirable". When we talk about the issues the MAC and OHIO have most of it really ends up with neither is marketable enough to move up no matter how good they might be (from time to time).
The crazy part is, it has only been the last few years of realignment that people have brought up the term "market size" or "TV market."
Athens, GA isn't a huge market. Clemson, SC isn't a huge market. Eugene, OR isn't a huge market. Those programs were just established at a time when it didn't matter. Now it does. It's so strange to think about that way, but TV has completely change how people "look" at a college football program.