or even DI (aka the top NCAA division level). However, here is where things might get tricky with the negotiations. About 20 years or so ago (late 90s/early 00s) the DI schools decided that DI schools couldn't compete at the DII or DIII levels in a sport because those teams had an unfair "competitive advantage" over their peer schools because those teams have access to the same "benefits" (i.e. resources, money, exposure, etc.) that the other DI teams at that school which aren't available to the other DII/DIII schools.

Let's assume for the sake of discussion that the P5 schools decide that baseball, softball, soccer, ice hockey, lacrosse, field hockey, and wrestling will be sponsored at the DI level (assuming the new DI level will just be "power conference" schools). Well Johns Hopkins (DIII school) competes in the Big Ten for men's lacrosse. While several DII schools (i.e. AK-Anchorage, AK-Fairbanks, RPI, RIT, etc.) currently compete at the DI level in men's ice hockey and I think women's ice hockey. If I was an AD at a DII or DIII school, then I would be concern that Johns Hopkins, Anchorage, Fairbanks, RPI, or RIT might suddenly gain an unfair competitive advantage because they have 1 or a couple non-revenue sports competing at the DI level particularly if the new DI takes on the mindset that all sports at that level are "revenue sports." Heck I might even look to see about 1 to a couple of my sports making the jump to DI to try to gain a competitive advantage over my DII or DIII peers. Basically the concern is a reverse of the concern DI schools had 20 or so years ago.

If the schools decide that certain sports shouldn't be in a major conference, then it would be interesting to see what that would mean. Would those sports still be competing at the DI level? If not, then how would the schools and their fans handle being in multiple division levels? How would that impact the conference network contracts and who would own the rights to a potential broadcast? For example, the ACC may decide to not sponsor wrestling at the new DII level. If that is the case, then VT and UVA could end up joining the CAA, which is now a new DII conference, in wrestling. I know the CAA has its own broadcasting contract. Would the ACCN still be allowed to televise VT or UVA wrestling matches or would fans be forced to watch whatever channel the CAA has a contract with? I guess this could potentially open a can of worm as to whether conference networks still make sense if schools are now members of multiple conferences.