One important thought on this is that in the ACC's position, the next round of additions has to be about potential and development more than current program stature. Think of it like Moneyball, the ACC isn't the Oakland A's but they're not the Yankees or Red Sox either. The B1G and SEC get to take the most valuable programs because nobody else can offer as much money. Backfilling with the current next best all but guarantees widening the gap.
So basically in 2026-2029, the ACC needs to add the programs that will be the most valuable in 2034-2036. This is why schools like SDSU and Arizona State and Houston interest me. I can see potential in economic/population trends.
This is also why SMU is such a good add, and hopefully Stanford as well (hopefully being in this position lights a fire under their boosters).
Of course the flip side is they can't afford to have many (if any) misses, either.