In the last NCAA statement on autonomy, this paragraph alluded to some sort of vague "separation" of the P5 and--for the first time specifically mentioned he G5 as well as part of the group that would enjoy this "separation" from the rest of D1.

The board will seek feedback on some questions raised by members of governance bodies in recent days, including: the process by which items decided by the full division could become part of the list of autonomous areas; the voting, interpretation and enforcement processes within the five highest-profile conferences; and the core structure that separates not only the five highest-profile conferences into their own group but also continues a separation of the next five conferences (the American Athletic Conference, Conference-USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West Conference and Sun Belt Conference) from the remaining 22.

Perhaps we now know why----a law suit was filed against the NCAA accusing the NCAA and the 10 FBS conferences of creating an illegal cartel that worked to unfairly cap scholarship values. This suit differs from the others that have been filed in that it names the G5 as well as the P5. The prior suits have only mentioned the P5.

The NCAA and several major conferences have been sued once again over athletes' compensation, and this time a current NFL player -- and prominent former Florida Gator -- is the lead plaintiff.

Sports Illustrated's Michael McCann reported Friday that Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd is that plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court and the District of Minnesota, one naming the NCAA and 11 different conferences -- the 10 FBS fotball conferences, and the Atlantic Sun -- as defendants. The suit accuses the NCAA and the conferences of forming an "illegal cartel" that has worked to unfairly cap the value of athletic scholarships .


http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...nferences-



As I stated earlier, once the P5 are allowed to provide benefits to student athlete, it will be IMPOSSIBLE for the NCAA to prevent conferences (like the G5) that have the resources to offer similar benefits from doing so to the best of their financial ability. And like I said, the legal challenges could come from the conferences, but the most effective challenge would come from athletes themselves. There would be little defense that the NCAA could mount since they have allowed the P5 to adopt these rules in the name of student athlete welfare. It would be difficult to then say, the G5, who are willing to finance many of the same changes---and who compete in the same division (and subdivision), cannot provide the same benefits where financially able. My guess is the conferences may think twice about stopping individual schools from adopting P5 autonomous rules to the best of their financial ability. But if conferences ARE able to stop implementation of these rules, this will lead to some realignment at various levels of the NCAA.