cost to join the big kids table was higher.

The likely cost of the ACC breaking up is more than the likely cost of whole conferences breaking off from the NCAA. I don't see lawsuits being as big a potential issue as lack of interest. The money will be theirs, if the interest demands it.

But I think that they will want to move it slowly. Treat the Big 12 and ACC schools the same as they've treated non-power 5 in the past, and take a few more schools closest to power position, then try to push everyone else aside while still working under the NCAA banner, splitting off as a different division for football only.