will the magic number be 16 members per conference? A few have said 18, but that would require 7 G5s to bump up to the Power 4. But assuming the magic number is 16, which one Power 65 school gets left out?

The ACC, B1G and SEC need 2 each. The PAC needs 4. The Big XII has 10, so numbers would work if there weren't ND, which makes 11. So someone will get left out.

Alternatively, if 72 (4 eighteen member conferences) turns out to be the magic number, which 7 G5 schools get the nod and where would they go?

IMO, I wonder if UT ends up in the SEC now, whether aTm approves or not. UT has a known ESPN network and may be able to merge with the SECN (much like many assume it would merge with an ACCN). Geographically, UT in the SEC makes a lot of sense. And, some say UT wants to be in the east like the Dallas Cowboys.

So, I could see UT and OU joining the SEC. This assumes UT and OU help see to it that their State brothers find a landing spot in another P4 and lawsuits can be avoided. I could see Kansas and ISU both joining the B1G since they are both AAU and fit their geographic contiguity rule. Plus, I think Iowa legislature pushes for Iowa to support ISU. I see Texas Tech, Ok State and Kansas State joining the PAC along with either TCU or Baylor (but not both). I see the ACC only adding WVU and staying at 15 members as ND continues to dangle that carrot until 2036. So I see Baylor or TCU potentially being left out hard to say which. But Dallas-Ft. Worth is bigger than Waco FWIW.

EDIT: Notre Dame will work a deal with the ACC to be a part of the ACC Championship somehow without having to give up independence. Maybe work the angle if they sweep their 5 ACC opponents, that they get a shot. Just a gut feeling.
[Post edited by Calamitous at 05/12/2017 10:36AM]