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$2.4 Billion Big Ten Investment Plan Paused as Michigan Reaffirms Opposition

UC Investments says no deal is on the table pending due diligence with unanimous backing required.

Overview

  • UC Investments' chief investment officer told regents the proposal is paused and emphasized a need for unity across all 18 Big Ten members.
  • Michigan’s Board of Regents publicly restated its opposition, while USC’s athletic director urged a thorough review and flagged concerns over uneven payouts, with both institutions affirming commitment to the conference.
  • Ohio State President Ted Carter said the university is still assessing the plan, stressing rigorous vetting and the Big Ten’s collaborative decision-making tradition.
  • The proposal would create Big Ten Enterprises and sell a 10% equity stake to UC Investments for $2.4 billion, extend the grant of rights to 2046, and deliver tiered upfront distributions reportedly starting at $100 million per school.
  • Conference leaders rejected claims of heavy-handed tactics, Senator Maria Cantwell requested a federal tax analysis, and UC’s investment chief cited a roughly $24 billion valuation with projected double‑digit returns.