The Big 12 tv deal doesn’t start until 2025-26 so could also be re-negotiated to a higher payout assuming Clemson and FSU join
People acting like it makes no sense I think are missing the bigger picture.. Big 12 as an intermediary step for Clemson and FSU to getting to the B1G/SEC makes sense for a ton of reasons. If the current option is really to stay until 2036 in the ACC, even moving to the B12 until the B1G/SEC media deals expire again at the end of the decade increases their path by 6 years into one of those leagues.
From a Big 12 perspective, getting Clemson and FSU ensures they’re the “other” power conference and probably is enough to buy them time to be migrated into whatever break off the B1G and SEC have planned. And from the B1G/SEC perspective, they don’t have to worry about being caught up in a huge legal battle with the ACC to get these two teams if and when they finally decide they want them.
I’m not saying it’s going to happen or should happen or any of that, but there’s reasons outside of just short term tv revenues to do so. In a world where Cal and Stanford are in the ACC, TCU, Boise State and San Diego State signed up to play in the Big East, etc, it’s not insane to think Clemson and FSU would spend ~3-5 years in the B12 as a stop gap given the current situation and interests for all parties involved.