Compare it to China then, which does state sponsor.

Or, hell, South Dakota can state sponsor their Patriot Games athletes if they want, to try to give them an edge. Make it a point of state pride or whatever to pull better competitors than a state that’s bigger but doesn’t care.

Alabama does better at college football nationally (historically) than much bigger states because of a culture difference. The idea that California would outperform them just because they’re bigger does not in fact bear out in reality.