But the NCAA controls zero money.
Eh? According to their website, 60% of the NCAA's revenue goes to Division I schools; 36% of their revenue benefits schools through services.
This total of 96 percent includes:
• Division I distributions (60 percent)
• Championships (13 percent)
• Programs and national office services (19 percent)
• Other services (such as the Eligibility Center) (4 percent)
Now, this is all from their website, so it could be a bunch of bloated shit...but even if it's not as high of a percentage as they claim, they do offer a lot of services and benefits. Media arrangements, enforcement of standards and rules, the BCS, etc.
They can't kick out vital members . . .
They
could, in theory, but it may not be financially advisable for them to do so.
. . . and expect the BCS. . .
The BCS is not an entity. It's an event that is administered by the 11 NCAA FBS conferences. Thus, when the NCAA gives you the boot, you're also out of the BCS, seeing as it's an event that is overseen by the NCAA conferences.
. . . and TV and advertisements to agree.
Realistically, this is what would prevent the NCAA from banning anyone. But, ultimately, would that be enough of a deterrent? If the NCAA decides to suspend or ban one school for its extreme insubordination, will advertisers care that much? One school, meanwhile 119 others remain? Many of which brought in more money than USCe?
The BCS is what brings in money for a lot of these advertisers, and the BCS is a product of the NCAA. As an advertiser/television station, do you buck the entire system (NCAA and BCS) that brought you shitloads of money? Do you get upset because one relatively insignificant team is no longer a part of that huge money-making system, which still has plenty of other teams left to make you money?
I think the NCAA could bully their way into doing it...if they wanted to. It's not realistic that it would happen, but if we're just contemplating the remote possibilities, then I think that the NCAA could swing its balls around some. Like I said, these schools are members of the NCAA; their membership (and the benefits that come with it) is contingent upon their actions.