The SEC produces some of the highest rated games in CFB. Despite that fact ESPN is not going to pay the SEC to add a 9th game to their schedules. Money is that tight! ESPN doesn't want to pay more than it has to on anything right now. Not even an extra SEC game.

The PAC/ESPN rumor was that ESPN only wanted 1 late night matchup from the PAC12 (along with a throw-in weekly ESPN+ game). ESPN has never wanted the whole conference. They were willing to pay out $90M for that package.

With that said I believe ESPN is also working closely with the B12 on potential expansion candidates. They want to leverage that partnership to acquire access to additional P5 western US properties that will deliver content for their last remaining late night window.

So how many P5 properties do they need to fulfillin their current #pac12afterdark time slot? Money is still tight, but they have 13 weeks to fill. They have BYU that could probably deliver 3-4 late night slots. They need at least 2 more schools. If those schools are also willing to play 3-4 late nights as well it may not quite get you 13 late night slots, but it may get you close enough.

I think the rumor of the Big12 pursuing all four 4-corner schools is overkill. I think they could at minimum satisfy ESPN's needs by adding just two. If Colorado and Arizona end up being those two, then I think the Big12 may be fine stopping there. That would cost ESPN just $40M. Let's say they decide to add another 4-Corner school. This nets you more than enough inventory for ESPN's late night slot, and they've still only spent $60M at that point. Those 3 schools will also have a game ea on ESPN+. So if ESPN was willing to pay out $90M to fill their late night slot, but got it done with 3 schools for $60M? They saved $30M from what they orig budgeted while fulfilling all time slots.

So I think the Big12 may very well stop at 14 teams. At most 15. There really isn't a need to go to 16 unless there is someone that is overwhelmingly additive (see: OU/UW). At that point you can invest in your league and wait for the ACC's demise.

So out of those four likely 4-corner schools I wonder who those three expansion candidates could be?