Here's the reality. Nobody actually knows WHAT the Composition Clause entails. There has been a lot of guessing, but nobody has cited what the clause actually says. That doesn't mean you are 100% wrong or 100% right, you are telling us what some people have reported.
However, the clause comes from the notoriously secret ESPN contract. And, as I've noted, there are two equally (if not more) important bits of language on whether you have to be a member of the conference to be contractually bound, and when ESPN's option exercise date is.
Also, there are OTHER sections of the contract that allow ESPN to adjust upward/downward based on teams coming and going.
Finally, as reported elsewhere, ESPN is paying the ACC so little that the contract is actually a bargain and makes ESPN money. Now, one could argue that without F$U/Clemson, the contract is inherently worth LESS money, and I'd agree, but the differential is whether the loss of those two teams can be covered by the OTHER clauses (which allow ESPN to pay less money) or if it would cause ESPN to get rid of an ENTIRE raft of cheap programming on which they make money.
I'll leave you with this. On my most recent Xfinity bill, I saw a credit for "RSN". I soon realized that I was getting a credit for the Bally regional sports networks that are no longer available on my "sports package". The credit was for more than 50% of what I am billed monthly for the sports package. If ESPN cancels the ACC, then they also cancel the ACCN, and they lose another form of revenue beyond the Saturday broadcast games.
I don't think ESPN will invoke the Competition Clause over losing 2 teams.
Four? Possibly.
Six? Probably.
Eight? Shut the whole **** thing down.
We will know soon enough, whether it is better for ESPN to move the entirety of the ACC contract money for 15 teams to, say, the SEC for the best 2-8 ACC teams.