Overview
- UC Investments said it will not sign a deal unless all 18 Big Ten members, including Michigan and USC, support the proposal, calling league unity essential.
- The plan under discussion would create Big Ten Enterprises, grant UC Investments roughly a 10% stake for $2.4 billion, and extend the conference grant of rights to 2046.
- Michigan regent Jordan Acker said the school would consider going independent in football when the current grant of rights ends in 2036 if the league proceeds without its backing.
- Reports indicated the Big Ten and as many as 16 schools were readying a late‑November vote to move forward even without the two holdouts before the investor paused the process.
- Member payouts were expected to be tiered with an average around $135 million, while trustees at Michigan and USC raised concerns over transparency, long‑term control, and fiduciary obligations.