There was a lot of confusion last week when it was announced that USC and UCLA would be leaving the Pac-12 to join the Big Ten. However, it appears that the answer for why they did it, at least as far as UCLA is concerned, is money. Of course, it is.
According to a report by Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times, “Debt-laden UCLA was on a grim trajectory to cut sports until it cashed in on a move to the Big Ten.”
BREAKING: Debt-laden UCLA was on a grim trajectory to cut sports until it cashed in on a move to the Big Ten https://t.co/U2dMsQXfbM
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) July 5, 2022
Per the report, UCLA’s athletic department has found itself in the hole of more than $100 million in debt. Given the school’s poor football attendance and the lack of notable payouts from media rights deals, it didn’t appear as though the school would be able to close that gap if it remained in the Pac-12. Hence, the promise of $100 million per year from the Big Ten, not to mention way more when that league negotiates its new media right deal, was simply too much to pass up.
“If you love Olympic sports, you should be a fan of this move,” UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond told The LA Times. “When your program is in significant debt, it’s difficult just to maintain, never mind to invest. This not only preserves the programs now — which was not a given — but also will allow us to invest in them. This move allows us to reimagine what UCLA athletics can be with more strategic investment and resources.”
The move, and the reasons behind it, have a lot of college football fans thinking about Maryland, which left the ACC for the Big Ten under similar auspices. There were plenty of reactions to the way schools like UCLA and Maryland can essentially fail upwards in the world of college athletics.
https://t.co/2bR1whOCmJ pic.twitter.com/JvNxnlCFx8
— 💫🅰️♈️🆔 (@ADavidHaleJoint) July 6, 2022
Softball $200
Rowing $150
Lacrosse $800
Chip Kelly $4,100,000
Water Polo $50someone who is good at the economy please help me budget this. my athletics department is dying. https://t.co/mHOOO2TO9f
— The Show (@TheShowSDSU) July 6, 2022
A bailout for one of the most mediocre football programs in the country. https://t.co/L9Jr96zOv3
— Matt Mosley (@mattmosley) July 5, 2022
B1G made Maryland and Rutgers wait 7 years to be full TV money partners.
— Anonymous Eagle (@AnonymousEagle) July 5, 2022
Perhaps UCLA shouldn't have bought so much avocado toast and spent more responsibly https://t.co/4grO8REgXw
— Robert O'Neill (@RobertONeill31) July 5, 2022
So they pulled a Maryland. https://t.co/RRD1YjRP0a
— Bud Elliott (@BudElliott3) July 5, 2022
UCLA couldn't afford Olympic sports, so now they'll fly 25 teams to Piscataway every year.
Makes sense. https://t.co/h2xwykU8Ef
— PodKATT (@valleyshook) July 5, 2022
Say it with feeling…AMATEUR SPORTS!
[LA Times]
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.