The Big Ten is reportedly in discussions for a massive cash infusion which would bring the league and its members an additional at least $2 billion over the next two decades according to a report from ESPN this week.

One of the main aspects of the negotiations is an extension of the league’s grant of rights for an additional decade until 2046 with the goal of securing stability in the Big Ten for years to come in this current era of uncertainty in college football. If this were to happen, it would be a tremendous step away from the seemingly inevitable super conference model where the Big 10 and SEC continue to swallow up other schools.

The most interesting aspect however in the report is that while the proposal has significant support from the teams in the league, the biggest brands including Ohio State and Michigan are still in talks, indicating that they don’t want to lock themselves into anything if there were further re-alignment.

“Think of it this way — the conference is not selling a piece of the conference,” a source for the conference told ESPN in the report. “Traditional conference functions would remain 100 percent with the conference office — scheduling, officiating and championships. The new entity being created would focus on business development, and it would include an outside investor with a small financial stake.”

Three different private equity proposals are on the table, and a vote is expected in the coming weeks. Whether it passes or not, iot could be a strong indicator of what the future of the sport winds up looking like.

“Our membership has clearly expressed the need to modernize the operations and structure of our conference to ensure that the Big Ten remains best positioned to offer the highest level of athletic and academic excellence in a rapidly evolving landscape,” another Big Ten spokesperson said via ESPN in a statement.

“Over a year ago, we initiated a comprehensive evaluation of our practices to identify partnerships that could secure the financial stability of our member institutions and allow us to not only protect, but expand, opportunities for our student-athletes. This is an ongoing process, and we remain committed to finding a path that strengthens the conference for the future.”