BYU/ESPN TV Deal = $5-10 mil/year
If BYU goes to BIG 12
BIG 12 teams get around $20 mil/year from ESPN/FOX
If BIG 12 adds non BYU team we'll say UCF
$ 10 mil from ESPN + 10 from FOX goes to UCF
If BIG 12 adds BYU
$10 mil-($5-10 mil) from ESPN + $10 mil from FOX goes to BYU
So as you can see ESPN gets a $5-10 mil discount if BIG 12 adds BYU. This fact alone should put a lot of pressure on ESPN to get BYU into the BIG 12 because the are trying to grow revenue stream (better teams into Provo) but minimize costs.