96% of fans think Michigan should reject $2.4 billion Big Ten equity deal

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

As Maize n Brew readers know, we do these SB Nation Reacts surveys every week. And the latest results are amongst the most lopsided since we’ve had these polls.

Last week, we asked fans if they think Michigan is right to reject the Big Ten’s potential $2.4 billion equity deal with the University of California pension fund. Here are the results.

96% of fans think Michigan should reject the deal.

Michigan and USC are the only Big Ten universities opposed to the deal, which would give immediate cash to every team in the conference.  The deal would last for 20 years and give the pension fund a 10% stake in Big Ten Enterprises while also receiving a cut of the Big Ten’s annual distribution. In the long run, it seems like something that would take money away from the Big Ten. Why would the pension fund want to make this deal otherwise? There will be a winner and a loser in this deal.

The equity deal is far from guaranteed, even with the Big Ten willing to go through with a deal without Michigan and USC. Per ESPN, the deal is on hold as the pension fund wants USC and Michigan on board to complete the deal.

Michigan Board of Regents member Jordan Acker is taking a firm stance on the matter, believing this deal could be a precursor to Michigan leaving the Big Ten.

“Michigan has a lot of options,” Acker said. “The possibility of independence for football is certainly something that has to be considered. Not today, but at the end of the Grant of Rights [in 2036]. I think it’s something you have to think about,” Acker continued. “Not because we want to leave the Big Ten Conference [but] because the commissioner’s office has made it enormously clear that they’re going [proceed] without us. That would be the end of Michigan, as far as I can see, in the Big Ten Conference.”

The irony of the deal being paused is the fact that the Big Ten is trying to push the deal through expeditiously, even wanting a vote on the matter on Nov. 21. However, it looks like Michigan and USC are the ones whom are in control and will influence whether a deal actually gets done. Michigan and USC are major brands that bring in a lot of revenue to the Big Ten, and without them, the deal is a lot less alluring. The Big Ten’s trying to strong-arm Michigan looks to be a futile exercise — Michigan and USC look to have the upper hand in this arm-wrestling match.

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos