Tag: Big Ten Conference

Report: Big Ten’s $2.4B investment deal off without Michigan, USC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Without the blessing from both Michigan and Southern California, a proposed $2.4 billion private investment deal to acquire 10% of the Big Ten Conference will remain on hold, Front Office Sports reported this week.

UC Investments, the pension fund for the 10-school University of California system, does not want to go through with the massive investment deal unless “the unity of the 18 Big Ten university members,” occurs.

While Michigan and USC want more information on how the partnership would work, UC Investments also has concerns that not all Big Ten member schools are up to speed with the details involved equity stake purchase of the conference, and the benefits for each member school.

Big Ten member UCLA is one of the schools whose employees have their retirement funds run by UC Investments. Cal, referred to in the system as UC Berkeley, is another of those institutions and is a member of the ACC.

The $2.4 billion investment that would bolster both the Big Ten and the pension fund of UC employees, would create a spinoff of the Big Ten called Big Ten Enterprises, according to the report. Big Ten schools would be required to agree to a contract that guarantees the partnership through 2046.

“I think it’s really important for all of us to take a deep breath and figure out how this is going to impact the university,” Michigan regent Jordan Acker told Front Office Sports. “I think there’s no rush in this deal. There should be no rush on any deal that affects the long-term success and integrity of the University of Michigan and of the Big Ten Conference.”

By slowing the deal from moving forward, UC Investments hopes more conference schools can get up to speed on the intricacies of the proposed partnership.

“We also recognize that some member universities need more time to assess the benefits of their participation,” UC Investments said in a statement to FOS.

–Field Level Media

Big Ten will continue to review illegal USC fake punt play

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Big Ten Conference confirmed a jersey violation by Southern California’s backup quarterback in Friday’s game against Northwestern and said Sunday that the situation will continue to be reviewed.

On a punt play in the second quarter, backup quarterback Sam Huard was in kick formation wearing the No. 80 jersey of punter Sam Johnson, who already had punted twice in the game. Huard threw a pass out of the formation to give USC a first down in an eventual 38-17 victory.

Despite the number confusion, the official statistics of the game show Huard, who normally wears No. 7, completing a 10-yard pass in the game.

According to the Big Ten, the number swap violated “NCAA Football Playing Rule 9, Section 2, Article 2,” under the label of “Unfair Tactics.” Paragraph D stated: “Two players playing the same position may not wear the same number during the game.”

Had game officials recognized the number swap, a 15-yard penalty would have been assessed for “unsportsmanlike conduct.” Instead of fourth-and-6, the Trojans would have been facing a fourth-and-21 play.

“The Big Ten will continue to review the situation with both institutions,” the Big Ten said in a statement.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2021; San Francisco, CA, USA; Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff speaks to the media during the Pac-12 men s basketball media day. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Pac-12 commissioner cautions of ‘harm’ from USC, UCLA departures

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff took an optimistic approach in his address at the opening of the conference’s media day Friday, while also chastising Southern California and UCLA for what he characterized as a money grab over their impending moves to the Big Ten.

While USC and UCLA will continue to participate in Pac-12 athletics for the next two academic years, their conference opponents starting in 2024 all will reside in the Midwest or in the East.

“Increased revenue can help us support our student-athletes but a singular focus on money will certainly cause more harm than good,” Kliavkoff said.

Some of that harm for student-athletes, according to Kliavkoff, could come in the form of longer travel for the departing programs, which now ill be subject to more difficult travel requirements.

“Our long-term measure for the success of college athletics cannot be how much money we consolidate into 10 or five or two conferences, but rather should be our ability to support the largest number of student-athletes while still facilitating competition between schools and conferences,” Kliavkoff said in prepared remarks. “We should be measuring how many lives we can change.”

But he stopped short of burning a bridge in the relationship with both Los Angeles-based schools, particularly with UCLA.

“There are a lot of constituents related to UCLA who are very, very, very unhappy with the decision,” he said. “Student-athletes, the families of student-athletes. The faculty, the staff. The politicians, the fans, the alumni. There’s a lot of really, really upset people with that decision …

“I think it is unlikely. But if they come back, we welcome them back.”

While the Pac-12 is actively exploring the addition of new member schools, it also is not done with the Los Angeles area despite the upcoming departure of the only two Division I football programs in the region.

“Southern California is really important to us,” Kliavkoff said. “I think there are different ways of approaching staying part of Southern California. We may end up playing a lot of football games in L.A.”

–Field Level Media