UC Regents approve UCLA move to Big Ten

The UC Board of Regents approved UCLA’s move to the Big Ten Conference by an 11-5 vote on Wednesday.

The Bruins officially will join USC departing the Pac-12 for the Big Ten beginning in 2024.

The approval by the regents comes with stipulations, including UCLA potentially being required to provide a subsidy between $2 Million and $10 Million to Cal-Berkeley, depending on the result of the Pac-12’s eventual new media rights deal.

The subsidy to UC-Berkeley would be to “enhance student-athlete support on that campus,” according to the regents.

Rich Leib is the board of regents chair.  He said “We looked at the reality of where we are and what the alternatives were. And I think in the end we just decided that the best thing to do is the way we did it, which is conditions, but allow them to go.”

Other stipulations include requirements for UCLA to address the impact of the move on student-athletes, including funds for academic support, nutritional support and mental health services.

Leib said the board can revisit the issue of UCLA’s subsidy to Cal once a new media deal is secured for the Pac-12 Conference.