Yeah, academically it isn't even close. It's about the same difference between us and them academically as it is in football. The average ACC school is so far ahead of the average SEC school academically that it isn't even debatable by those of us who recruit regularly. Night and Day. But for some reason if we tout someone's athletic prowess that's cool, but to tout someone's intelligence is somehow demeaning to those less gifted. Narrative.
But I don't think the Alliance is interested in 'closing out the SEC.' Why would they be? They simply want to make sure that the circularity machine that is the SEC doesn't close everyone else out. You know how it is...the SEC is the most awesome because of...well, Alabama. Therefore all the schools that Bama beats every year are also good...for some reason. So they all get ranked highly, and when they lose to each other it is 'quality losses.' When they get beat by someone from outside the conference it is a 'fluke', because we just know that the SEC is better, right? With a 12 game championship the SEC is hoping to get six of the slots, get all the payout and slowly but surely push the other conferences out of the picture.
What they are doing isn't bad or evil, but is it a bit dirty and anyone who apologizes for them is either an idiot, naïve or has a vested interest in that outcome (in my opinion.)
Their goal is to make as much money on the backs of free athlete labor as possible. More money = higher AD pay = lake houses and European Vacations. Follow. The. Money.