Just as our new president is looking to protect her "product", I think ESPN wants to ensure their product is as competitive as ever.
I would love for Herbst or ESPN to lobby us into the Big 10, or B1G if you prefer, but my sensible side just doesn't see it happening. The ACC would give us regionally based rivalries, something that I think is key to the college atmosphere, and stability. ESPN wins out with solid Saturdays in the fall and winter weeknights filled with Uconn - Duke, UConn- UNC, and so on. Not to mention a conference tourney that will almost certainly include half of the top 25 teams in the country.