So the argument is that ESPN should pay MORE money to the SEC to support Clemson and Florida State in the conference.... but so long as the rest of the ACC comes out even, it's contractually ok? I just don't see how that would make sense for ESPN.
The ACC earns less on a per-team basis than the SEC. So right now ESPN already owns FSU and Clemson content at a discount of what it would have to pay to keep the SEC whole for the same content.. there is no gain there for ESPN.
Even if the argument is that Clemson and Florida State are worth the extra money (meaning they are worth more than the per team proportion on the ACC deal).. then that would indicate that ESPN is going to willingly overpay the other 12 full members for more than the decade remaining on the contract.. which again eliminates any gain.
The only way ESPN would come out ahead on that deal is if they placed Clemson and FSU in the SEC; while still paying them the same as they earn as members of the ACC, which doesn't help Clemson or FSU as they'd end up earning less than the rest of the SEC and continuing to fall behind, while faced with a significantly more difficult schedule.