I agree but Disney and ESPN have the money if they want to do it and put it on ABC. They just lost out on the Big Ten and are paying peanuts to the SEC now compared to what the Big Ten just got from Fox and co. so they could throw a fun wrench into things by going after that Notre Dame home slate. This is a battle between these networks, so don’t ever put it past any of them to try and F over the mother network.
It’s not just more money- ND wants to have a good relationship with SEC (ESPN). As long as SEC/ESPN rather have an independent ND than a BIG ND, ND will have a spot at the table and playoff access. Becoming an ESPN asset (for more money) makes certain ND is included as an equal to P2s.
If ND isn’t in this BIG deal, then Warren missteps or gave up on ND when adding NBC and excluding ESPN. Now ND gets BIG affiliation via network if staying on NBC, while also motivating espn to keep ND independent. ESPN would go LHN type subsidy if NBC falls short of ND’s needed revenue. The path to remaining independent was strengthened