re: Casual CFB fans excited to see a "National" program in the BCSNCG

Exactly. Alabama certainly isn't as national a program as Notre Dame but it IS a national program. I remember seeing a feature on a large group of Alabama fans from Bridgeport, Pennsylvania. None of the several dozen members had any connection to Alabama whatsoever. They would pick 1 or 2 home games each year and charter buses for the trip(s). These people had absolutely no reason to be Alabama fans (this was in the late 80s/very early 90s) but they were big Bama fans nonetheless.

I also saw/met Bama fans in the most random places when I lived and traveled out West. I remember getting a roll tide from a guy in Rock Springs, Wyoming of all places. The guy was a local with no connection to Alabama but was a Bama fan nonetheless. Those are the kinds of things you see about "national" programs particularly the large Pennsylvania group.