the schools have a clear end goal of any kind. As a result, some of their behavior and decisions gives the impression they may be headed in a number of directions. Likewise, if you look at the evolution of collegiate athletics from a historical context, then you can see why schools may think it is heading in that direction. Specifically, I am referring to the motivations that led the schools to decide to create 3 subdivisions within the NCAA in 1971. When you understand the "Why?," then you have to ask yourself whether things today are truly that much different than they were in 1971? I'm not talking about the amount of money on the table or whether student-athletes are able to earn money via NIL deals. I am talking about from the schools' perspective and their desire to want to group themselves together in some fashion in order to hold intercollegiate competitions. Then if you continue on the evolution train to the late '70s, you should focus on the reasons DI schools felt it was time to create the 2 subdivisions in football in 1977 with 1978 being the first year DI-AA awarded the NCAA DI national championship to FAMU (note the irony in that fact). Once again, figure out the answer to the "Why?" question (why then?, why these new rules?, etc.), then you should see that what is going on today may not be that much different for schools looking to appease their desire to be in a like-minded group. If the range of DI members is as wide as the Pacific Ocean and the schools have not created subdivisions in the other sports, then it could suggest the NCAA may be primed for another major decision similar to the 2 examples I gave you. The schools may be in the process whether it is sport specific or for all sports because that will dictate how the bylaws will be written. For example, a non-DI school is currently not allowed to participate in football or basketball at the DI level without becoming a full DI member. If the schools decide to separate football (aka make it sport specific), then that could open the door for DII or DIII schools to want to compete at DI level in basketball without becoming a full DI member. Do the current DI members really want to deal with that scenario? Probably not, which takes separating football off the table for the time being because it is considered a "revenue sport." The reason that matters is because a DII or DIII could take that additional money earned by playing DI football or basketball and use it to fund the remaining DII or DIII sports. Perceptually that school could have unfair competitive advantage in resources from its DII or DIII competitors. Hence why the bylaws were changed to prevent DI schools from competing at the DII or DIII levels in a sport (including football).