is the P5s could decide to break up into smaller conferences. The desire to form super conferences could be a means to an end that creates enough separation to clear any political hurdles that could prevent a formal divorce from the G5s.

If a separation happens then the final number could be somewhere around 100 members once you factor in all the sports the schools will sponsor. The P5s could decide to pool their resources together in terms of network negotiations and return to a pre-1984 way of doing business (or at least a similar way). Also, you could see the P5s decide on a list of sports they will sponsor and that every school must sponsor those sports. By agreeing to the list then it could make things easier to pool resources together. Also, it would create conference stability because schools wouldn't have a need to join another conference for athletic reasons. Academic reasons may be a moot point since schools already work together regardless of conference affiliation. If conferences like the Atlantic 10 and Big East are not willing to agree to those terms, then their only option is to join the G5 group.