Zero state taxes on NIL deals. Protection from federal regulations to use NIL unfettered regardless of NCAA or otherwise’s guidance. As state legislators act to ensure that their alma mater’s football programs can thrive in the NIL era, a surprise counter to their efforts has emerged in the fight.

The Power Conferences themselves.

In a stunning move, the power conferences have drafted a contract that would bind schools to new enforcement rules & require them to waive the right to sue over decisions, sources tell @YahooSports.

Schools not signing may risk conference eviction – https://t.co/ielFzieLBP

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 20, 2025

As a literal counter to Tennessee’s recent efforts to ensure that Tennessee is an unregulated collegiate NIL paradise (fuck you, Tennessee!), the power conferences are getting louder about ensuring that the playing field is evened out (try saying that with a straight face).

Officials from the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12 and ACC are circulating a draft of a groundbreaking and first-of-its-kind document intended to prevent universities from using their state laws to violate new enforcement rules and, in a wholly stunning concept, requires schools to waive their right to pursue legal challenges against the new enforcement entity, the College Sports Commission.

The document, now viewed by dozens of leading school administrators, would bind institutions to the enforcement policies, even if their state law is contradictory, and would exempt the CSC from lawsuits from member schools over enforcement decisions, offering instead a route for schools to pursue arbitration.

The document, described as an “Affiliation” or “Membership Agreement,” is not finalized but a draft of the contract has been distributed to several school presidents, general counsels and athletic directors — many of whom have expressed legal concerns with several of the document’s concepts, which are now being refined.

The document is meant to be signed by all power conference schools, perhaps as well as others opting into the settlement, as a way to bind the group and provide stability around the enforcement of rules. That includes, most notably, decisions from the new Deloitte-run NIL clearinghouse, dubbed “NIL Go,” an entity expected to more strictly enforce booster pay.

The consequence for not signing the agreement is steep: a school risks the loss of conference membership and participation against other power league programs. (emphasis added)

So not only can you not leverage your state lawmakers for an advantage, but you’ll be left on the outside looking in – don’t think about going Independent, you’re not Notre Dame – and won’t be allowed to play with others if you choose to do so.

If you read the rest of the article, you’ll note, as many of you already realized in reading the quoted portion above, that many aspects of the ask has elements that would have to stand up in court and pass through several legal experts before it materializes in an actual, contractual agreement.

Question is, when things have gotten to the point where even the Power Brokers realize something’s gotta give, doesn’t it make you wonder if they can’t be more reflective on other issues as well? Like officiating, stupid clock rules, and the CFP Committee?

Wait, that would mean someone would have to come off of the profit hungry climate they’ve created to ensure that the spirit of college football remains? Maybe this is just about a fear that someone might make more money being independent, like Notre Dame.

It’s a Dueling Banjos of morality, is it not?

In truth it’s just about controlling the revenue stream, I mean flood, so let’s not think they’re doing this for any good purposes.