DALLAS (AP) — The Big 12 is the first known conference in major college sports to strike a league-wide, private capital deal. Multiple people with knowledge of the agreement tell The Associated Press that the Big 12 has a five-year agreement with RedBird Capital Partners. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because neither side announced the deal, which was ratified by Big 12 presidents and chancellors last week. The partnership is designed to grow revenue for the league at a time when some schools are strapped for cash. RedBird will provide the conference with a $12.5 million capital infusion and offer up to a $30 million line of credit for each Big 12 school. RedBird will have no ownership stake in the Big 12 or its revenues, and no operational or governance oversight.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin doesn’t want to refer to itself as “Running Back U” until it performs at a level that would make Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor and other former Badgers ball carriers proud. That task gets easier if Wisconsin starts resembling “O-Line U” again. Wisconsin earned those “RBU” and “O-Line U” nicknames during its glory years as its superstar backs dominated games while future NFL linemen cleared their paths. The Badgers didn’t run the ball nearly that well while going 9-15 over the last two seasons. Luke Fickell’s coaching future at Wisconsin likely depends on whether the Badgers run the ball effectively again.
UNDATED (AP) — The SEC’s reign as the kings of the first round of the NFL draft was toppled by the Big Ten. The conference remained in the top spot for the entire draft after the SEC set a record for the number with 87 players picked over the three days. Thanks to recent national champions Indiana and Ohio State, the Big Ten led the way with 10 first-round picks, marking the first time the SEC didn’t have the most players taken in round one since 2015. The SEC had only seven for its lowest total since 2015.
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — The NCAA has agreed to overhaul its restrictions on athletes accepting prize money before enrolling in college under the terms of a proposed settlement of a class action lawsuit brought North Carolina tennis champion Reese Brantmeier. The NCAA agreed to pay $2.02 million in damages to Brantmeier and former Texas tennis player Maya Joint under terms of the settlement reached Tuesday. According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, the elimination of restrictions to prize money before initial full-time enrollment applies to student-athletes in all sports.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan basketball coach Dusty May has announced that three players have been added from the transfer portal and two incoming freshman are joining four high school seniors who were signed in November. May had to add an influx of talent because All-America player Yaxel Lendeborg exhausted his eligibility while Aday Mara, Morez Johnson Jr. and Elliot Cadeau declared for the NBA draft. Cincinnati center Moustapha Thiam, Tennessee forward J.P. Estrella and LSU forward Jalen Reed transferred to Michigan. Highly touted recruit Brandon McCoy joins forward Lincoln Cosby to cap a recruiting class with four previously signed players.
