What I am seeing is a diversion tactic, that is common for large-scale businesses when you have either an intra-party looking to leave, or change the terms of a deal they have found to be unfair or an external party wanting to acquire assets at a lower price. Sow doubt and distress among the pieces of a large conglomerate so you can spin off the most profitable ones.
Surely you smart GT people can see that...
FSU, UNC, and Clemson are gone, and the ACC should merge with the Pac 12 to create the P3 conference. Because those leftovers will have more media power than the current B12.
Personally, I think the B1G is going to be the most profitable conference when everything is said and done and there really isn't anything the SEC can do to stop them. The B1G will maximize its distribution through new states, opening up carriage rates, and the brand power will be a close 2nd as you need brands to carry eyeballs for prime time slots.
The SEC has to maximize brand power over new markets because their media value lies in the millions of people who want to watch Alabama and UGA play 3 times a year.
That is why I expect the FSU to work like hell and get their AAU status. Because I think the B1G is going to come east and south.
In the end, I think it will go something like this.
1) Oregon, Washington, UVA, UNC, FSU and maybe GT to the B1G, The Big 10 has almost every time zone and a presence in every major state except Texas. They have major brands of Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, USC, UCLA, FSU, UNC, Oregon, etc...
2) NC State, Va Tech, Miami, and Clemson to the SEC, they get two new states and big brands that will spend Gazillions on just football.
3) Some type of bastard Hybrid conference with the left overs from the ACC/PAC or even B12.
4) Notre Dame will still be independant.