All ESPN has to do is jump all in on streaming. I had cut the cord when BYU went independent. Luckily for me BYU was streaming their games straight to XBox Live. No cable required. The cable companies heard about ESPN streaming games and shut it down as per the contract.
I still watch ESPN as a cord cutter. Just on SlingTV now. ESPN is fine. They already have their bailout chute ready to go on the streaming world.