There's another reasonable explanation.
The orange states are mostly those around California -- where I there is most likely a concentration of USC fans -- and the northeast, where, let's face it, big-time college football is scarce.
In most of the green states, there are major college football teams -- teams that compete either directly or indirectly with USC for the national championship. (The one state that seriously bucks this trend is Louisiana.)
I suspect people are voting not so much on the ethics of the case, but based on how such sanctions would affect their team.
I was having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. Your post did it.
"..voting based on how such sanctions would affect their team." Please tell us how sanctions against Bush/USC would affect any team from UT, WY, ID, ND, SD, CO, KS, NE, NM, MT, MO, IL, MS, MN, NC, SC and other green states. Your "reasonable explanation" is nothing of the sort.
I was having a hard time putting my thoughts into words. Your post did it.