regardless of the paper trail and everyone knows it - boosters will contribute to the NIL fund instead of the AD - turning a blind eye to that is so...like a religious institution.

I think that is part of the issue with ND. It is presented as this religious bastion of tradition - but as you say, if it is in our best $$$ interests just pick the best of two $$$ evils regardless of impact to tradition, versus trying to find a way out.

If you could get $5 - 10 - 20 - 30 (pick a number) million less versus $40 million and ND only gives up "some" independence (already done to an extent) - maybe another ACC game, still gets to play Navy, plays other "national" teams, makes better money - but not SEC ,or B1G money, and doesn't have to pay players to continue to compete at the highest level, probably has a little more influence within the conference than a P2 - The SEC or B1G will eat ND alive (even just for revenge sake) once they are just another member - and they won't have leverage to get special treatment in a P2, can't just take my ball and go home and play when everyone else is united.

or do you take the $40 million and sell your soul to the devil? that's just $$$ wining - nothing to do with brand and prestige - we've been told the "brand" is independence and you are likely selling that to the highest bidder?

or stand on principle and drop to a lower level?

BTW I think your thoughts are correct on what will happen, it just reeks of everything ND claims it is not.