Some POSSIBLE benefits to ESPN:

1. ESPN gets the TV rights of OU and TX from the start of the deal with the SEC in 2024 rather than 2025 when the GORs expires. That is a monetary value of at least $200 million. It also gets the teams a year early.

2. ESPN can have matchups between Oregon, Washington, BYU, ASU, etc and SEC teams to replace PAC 12 after dark. That improves the ratings because you know SEC fans will stay up to watch those games on the west coast. More viewers means more advertising.

3. If the PAC folds or Fox entices the B1G to take UW, UO, and Stanford ESPN risks losing the Pacific time zone. It isn’t the most profitable zone population wise but that hasn’t stopped ESPN. Would you rather have PAC 12/Big 12 inventory and some SEC games in there or MW inventory?