NW, IU, UI, Ole Miss, MSU, Vandy, USC-E, as well as several others scream "2nd tier" except for the cash they are pulling in from B10 & SEC conference affiliation.

Massive state universities as well as a couple private schools with huge fan followings (USC-W, ND) will probably be the only schools standing at the top of the heap if this progresses to the Mandel conclusion.

Academics clearly isn't the primary driving force here, just ask UNC and all of the SEC schools. This movement is driven by a "win at all costs" attitude, and it's being aided by the severely corrupt NCAA. If this were is the future, don't be surprised if a lot of large schools decide that just don't want to compromise their educational integrity for truckloads of cash.