The Big Ten Conference weighs massive private capital plan that could lock stability until 2046.
College football’s most powerful conference may be on the verge of a historic financial move. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel, the Big Ten is weighing a possible $2 billion private capital deal that could change how money flows through college athletics.
The proposal would create Big Ten Enterprises, a new arm to handle revenue streams like TV rights and sponsorships. Sources told ESPN the deal also includes a 10-year extension of the league’s grant of rights, securing all 18 members, including Michigan and Ohio State, through 2046.
Every school would receive a nine-figure upfront payment. Larger brands like Ohio State are expected to get more, but even smaller programs would benefit.
By extending the grant of rights, the Big Ten would slam the door on schools leaving and block super league proposals.
The outside backer would share in profits but have no voting control. “The conference is not selling a piece of the conference,” one league source told ESPN.
Commissioner Tony Petitti has pushed the plan as a way to modernize revenue and strengthen the league’s hold on college football. A final vote could come in weeks. If approved, this deal would set a new bar for how conferences operate, and cement the Big Ten’s place at the center of the sport.
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