They have a conflict of interest in all of this. They are trying to protect their jobs and existing power. But their actions are not in the best interest of the football schools. You are completely correct that none of the ACC's actions have in any way helped FSU, Clemson, VT or other football focused schools. I will offer one way out there scenario. ESPN could actually choose to not renew the ACC contract and actually save money by doing it. It all goes back to media rights. The only things that ESPN doesn't own are the BIG, PAC, Notre Dame, and the Mountain West. So theoretically, ESPN could allow the ACC to break up early. Take the risk that the BIG only grabs 2 programs, and that leaves the SEC to take their pick of who they want. The rest of the ACC can then be pushed off to the B12 (which ESPN has 60% of), G5 conferences (which are much cheaper and mostly under ESPN control), or stay in the weakened ACC (either a new cheaper ESPN contract or let someone else take them). ACC death sooner than expected is within the realm of possibility. If I can think of a scenario like that, then I'm sure someone else can as well.