Wolverine Digest

Michigan football’s potential Big Ten exit is slowly becoming more possible

Michigan’s long-term Big Ten future grows uncertain amid resistance to the league’s private-equity proposal.
Justice Steiner|
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback helmets sit on the field before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Michigan Wolverines quarterback helmets sit on the field before a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images | Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

As one of the longest-standing members of the Big Ten conference, could Michigan football be on its way out in the future? In the short term, the answer is no. But following the end of its current media rights deal, which is set to expire in 2036, it could be on the table.

University of Michigan Board of Regents member Jordan Ackers talked with Nicole Auerbach earlier this week and spoke on the possibility of the Wolverines leaving the conference.

"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. I think it's something you have to think about, not because we want to leave the Big Ten conference, because the commissioner's office has made it enormously clear that they're going (to move forward with the proposed capital deal) without us… That would be the end of Michigan, as far as I can see, in the Big Ten conference."

The conflict comes from a private equity investment, which would look to give $2.4 billion to each of the 18 schools up front, in exchange for a 10 percent cut of the Big Ten’s media rights.

"Having the richest college football conference join arms with private equity is not in my view a positive for the University of Michigan," Acker said.

It has been well documented that the UofM is strongly against this and is clearly willing to walk away from the conference if need be. USC is also against the private equity investment, voicing its concerns over the decision-making at the top of the conference.

Big Ten Champions
Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh holds up the Big Ten trophy during the Big Ten football championship ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Michigan Wolverines defeated the Purdue Boilermakers, 43-22. Ncaa Football Big Ten Championship Football Game Purdue Boilermakers At Michigan Wolverines | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

Michigan and the Big Ten

Michigan was one of the original six schools to join the conference when it was founded in 1896.

However, Michigan left the conference in 1908 over disagreements over football regulations. The Wolverines rejoined the conference in 1917.

Becoming an Independent

Would leaving the Big Ten and becoming an independent be good for the Wolverines? That probably depends on who you ask.

A school like Notre Dame, which is independent in football but a part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in other sports, seems to thrive in that. The Fighting Irish have a $50 million deal with NBC and can obviously have flexibility with who they want to schedule year-to-year.

However, not being a part of a conference can hurt when on the edge of a College Football Playoff berth. Also, Michigan fans wouldn’t want to lose annual rivalry games like Michigan State and Ohio State if they did leave the conference.

Overall, it is difficult to determine whether it would be beneficial or detrimental to the program. But the longer Michigan and the Big Ten go without a resolution, the more likely it will become.

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Justice Steiner
JUSTICE STEINER

A Battle Creek, Mich. native, Justice Steiner has been passionately involved in sports, currently as the sports information director at Davenport University, an NCAA Division II program, where he covers 12 sports. He also serves as the creative services director for the men's and women's baseball teams. Prior to DU, Steiner worked as a graduate assistant in the sports information office at the University of Louisville, working closely with the women's soccer, women's basketball, men's tennis and softball programs. While at Grand Valley State University, Steiner began his writing career at the Grand Valley Lanthorn. He graduated from GVSU with a degree in advertising and public relations.

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