"If you’re going to wait and see, the real question is whether the Pac12 has any top brands by then. Likely true of the ACC too."
The whole post had good points but the above phrase is the key question.
If ISU fans are grumbling about the difference in revenue between the B12 and B1G/SEC you can be sure USC, Or., UW, UCLA, Co. from the PAC are and FSU, Clemson, NC, Va., Va. Tech from the ACC among others are. The PAC needs a tv deal around 55-60M IMO to keep USC and I don't think they get that. Will USC stay with unequal revenue sharing? Probably not. Why? Because UT & OU could have made similar money in the B12 with unequal revenue sharing but they left for NIL purposes and USC and a few others will also. You can't create big enough games in the PAC for USC to compete NIL wise and recruiting.
The same will happen with the ACC schools. While I think the B1G is the club house leader for NC & Va. the interesing thing is SEC & ESPN could possibly stop the ACC exodus if NC & Va. are put in the SEC and if the B1G is unwilling to add FSU, Clemson, Ga. Tech without a bridge. While I think its more plausible the B1G would add Va. Tech, would they add NC St? Probably not. It almost becomes a "dare" by the SEC. Go ahead and add the secondary brand in NC and Florida in all years and even SC & Va. in years where the schools are performing equally. If the B1G takes too many secondary brands for recruiting and southern exposure they lose ground financially to the SEC. This could be the vehicle for the B1G and SEC staying at 20 teams instead of 24. If the B1G gets NC & Va. I think its a lot more plausible those two leagues go to 24 because then the SEC needs to keep the B1G from at least FSU & Clemson and maybe Ga. Tech.
There will definitely be a P2 but once there is a break away of schools will the new level have just 3 leagues of 24? Or 4,5 or even 6 with varying amounts?
If the B1G & SEC go to 24 teams, I think its more likely there is either 3 or 4. If they stop at 20, you could see 4, 5 or 6 where even the last league(s) gets more than the AAC now but a lot less than the 2 or 3 above it. Any combo of these leagues would do away with the FCS games and the real low G5 games going forward.