[Goose]

One could foresee Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana, and maybe Iowa, Minnesota  abandoned.

Yes, but how do you do it? I guess you could pass a "rule" that required things these schools couldn't do, but everyone else could? I don't think conference's agreements have a provision for expulsion without cause.

Of course that could get very ugly.

Very much so. I can't see any way to do it other than found a "new" conference and transfer the "desired" teams into it. Still very ugly, but at least theoretically doable.

[Goose]

One could foresee Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana, and maybe Iowa, Minnesota  abandoned.

Yes, but how do you do it? I guess you could pass a "rule" that required things these schools couldn't do, but everyone else could? I don't think conference's agreements have a provision for expulsion without cause.

Of course that could get very ugly.

Very much so. I can't see any way to do it other than found a "new" conference and transfer the "desired" teams into it. Still very ugly, but at least theoretically doable.