Nebraska approves settlement with Big 12
The regents at the University of Nebraska have approved a settlement with the Big 12 Conference worth $9.25m. The settlement secures Nebraska’s departure from the Big 12 next season in favour of the Big
Ten.
The settlement comes after Nebraska announced their decision to leave the Big 12 a year earlier than expected. The Cornhuskers originally received an invitation to join the Big Ten for the 2012 season.
However, after deliberation the school decided it was in their best interest to join the conference on 1 July 2011.
Unfortunately for Nebraska, a bylaw stipulates that a university must inform the conference two years before their departure. Since Nebraska broke the bylaw, the Big 12 reserves the right to withhold 80
percent of their portion of the conference payout, which would have totalled 19.4 million. Nevertheless, Nebraska managed to negotiate the $9.25m agreement, which can be reduced to $8.76m if the club is able to secure a spot in a BCS bowl game.
The Big 12 is already guaranteed one spot in a BSC bowl game. However, they would like another in order to generate more revenue. At this point the Cornhuskers have a very good chance of earning a spot
in a bowl game and reducing their settlement.
At the moment Nebraska is second in the Big 12 North with a 5-0 record and sits in fifth in the AP Top 25 rankings. The Cornhuskers are also expected to earn a top five spot in the BCS rankings when they
are released for the first time on Sunday 17 October.
The Cornhuskers difficult schedule could even catapult them to the top of the BCS standings if they are able to finish the year with a perfect record. Nebraska still has games remaining against Texas,
Oklahoma State, Missouri, and Colorado.
The Cornhuskers next game will be at home to Texas on Saturday 15 October.
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