It was my understanding that the ACC GOR can be opened for negotiation if new members were brought in. If that's the case, then I doubt WV would be invited into the ACC because this would allow Clemson and other schools to jump to other conferences.
Yeah its a catch 22 I think for them. If they try to add, then they open the flood gates for the top to leave with no protections. If they do nothing they either risk falling behind everyone, and/or their teams finding any other way for themselves to get out.
What will happen to the ACC if they stay with their current situation until 2036, is everyone, even the Big 12 will be so far ahead that they will be in no longer relevant.
My feeling is the if that happens the ACC will be getting, 1/3 - 1/4 what the B1G and SEC are getting by 2036 if even that much. The Big 12 should still be in the 1/2 - 3/4 range. And when you are talking about the level of say 150-200M per school by 2036, for the SEC and B1G, 100-125M for Big 12, and just 50-60M for the ACC they will be closer to G5 than the top 2 conferences.
That would put schools like Clemson and FSU so far behind that they may no longer be candidates for the top 2 conferences. I dont know if the ACC can afford to wait it out. They are really in a bad spot.