It’s a good time to be in the Big Ten, but it’s a great time to be in the Big Ten if you’re Nebraska, which will get a full share of conference money for the first time since joining in 2011.
It’s projected to be quite a lot of money.
And, yes, it’s been quite a lot of money for the Big Ten’s fully-integrated members, every school but Nebraska, Maryland and Rutgers. According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, the University of Michigan received $36.3 million from the Big Ten this year. That’s not chump change, but with the Big Ten’s new TV deal in place, things are about to get better.
Michigan projects the Big Ten payout for the upcoming 2017-18 fiscal year at $51.1 million, a nearly 41-percent increase “due mostly to a new conference television agreement.”
The upcoming fiscal year will be the first year Nebraska gets a full share from the conference. When Nebraska joined the Big Ten it agreed to take a lesser share of conference revenue for six years. According to a report from Henry J. Cordes of the Omaha World Herald last year, Nebraska received $14 million from the Big Ten in year one (2011-12) and $22 million after year five (2015-16).
That means, of course, that the Big Ten has shown steady gains year to year, but the new TV deal is even better than initial projections. Three years ago, the conference was projecting $44.5 million for 2017-18.
Good job, Jim Delany. Hope every school is planning to send him a thank-you note. Splurge a little and get some nice stationery.
State College Has Fallen
There are not many traditional powers left who have not dipped a toe in the alternate-uniform waters. Off the top of my head, I can name three: Auburn, Penn State and USC.
One of those schools came off the board yesterday and it’s probably the one you would’ve expected to be the last holdout.
https://twitter.com/pennstatefball/status/875411026430140416
The Nittany Lions are getting fancy, or at least what qualifies for fancy in State College. Penn State’s new look is a throwback, I guess, though it’s comprised of throwbacks to multiple eras. A “throwbackollage?” Whatever you call it, referencing old uniforms is the most common gateway drug to full-on alternates. Nod to history and you can make change more palatable, and once you’ve made changes, well, the horse is out of the barn.
There’s a surprising lack of delightful jersey jabber going on here, which is a disappointment. The white of the shoes are not a reference to the white of the sideline at McCloskey’s Corner. Instead, in keeping with Penn State’s overall ethos, Nike keeps things pretty matter-of-fact. But the socks look cool and anything that eliminates all-white pants is a great thing.
Welcome to the club, Penn State.
The Grab Bag
- The man who moves college football coaches when they change jobs. Fun read. As much fun as you’ll ever have with anything moving-related.
- Michigan State also revealed a new alternate this week, an all-white version of the Spartans’ standard uniform.
- ESPN looks at the potential 1,000-yard rushers in the Big Ten this season.
- Ed Orgeron might have an unusually strong aversion to satellite camps in Louisiana.
Today’s Song of Today
https://youtu.be/7cKM3tfAsEo
Brandon is the Managing Editor for Hail Varsity and has covered Nebraska athletics for the magazine and web since 2012, Hail Varsity’s first season on the scene. His sports writing has also been featured by Fox Sports, The Guardian and CBS Sports.
