So, Big Ten boss Tony Petitti has been playing the role of big baller for the conference. We’re talking about a massive $2.4 billion cash injection headed its way. The twist? The money partner is the University of California’s pension fund. A detail the league is eager to highlight. Still, some college football insiders say it feels like shaking hands with the devil or selling your soul. It’s one of those deals that look great right now but could end up eating you alive later.

So here’s how it goes. The Big 10 and UC investment fund would create a new company, “Big Ten Enterprises,” to handle all the media and sponsorship stuff, and the UC folks would basically get a 10% slice of that new pie. The said main idea behind this move is to make sure the conference and its schools are set financially for the long run. The upside? All 18 Big Ten schools would get a sweet, instant cash payout. Looks very tempting, right? Wrong!

On November 10, Blake Ruffino and Joe DeLeone hopped on their Ruffino & Joe Show podcast and started questioning Tony Petitti’s real agenda behind pushing to bring private equity into the Big Ten. Ruffino believes Tony Petitti is hiding something. He blasted the Big Ten commissioner, asking, “What one thing has Tony Petitti done in the last six months that’s been worth a damn?” According to Ruffino, nothing except pitching a 30-team playoff idea in the name of revenue for the conference, with a play-in game. The hosts called the move dumb and driven purely by money.

Ruffino argued that Petitti’s background as a TV executive shows in his decisions, saying, “You didn’t hire a sports guy… you hired a guy that’s only objective is for money.” To him, the commissioner is focused on TV revenue and ratings instead of the health of college athletics.

Ruffino also raised concerns about what private equity ownership would mean for universities, asking, “When you say a grant of rights, what does that mean? Do they get a look at my books?” He warned that once investors put in money, “guess what — it makes you an owner,” giving them potential influence over college sports. Ruffino concluded that he’s not targeting the Big Ten specifically: “I don’t want the SEC doing it, I don’t want anybody doing it,” but believes no conference should move forward until leaders “give me details of why it’s best for the sport.” Until then, he says, the whole thing looks shady.

The good news is that the deal isn’t a done deal and has faced some serious pushback. Major schools like Michigan and USC have raised objections. They worried that a quick cash fix wouldn’t solve the long-term issue of high costs. There are also concerns about the proposed tiered payout system that would favor bigger athletic programs. Some board members have also complained about the lack of transparency in the negotiations. Any agreement needs a unanimous vote. The opposition from a few big universities could be enough to stop the deal entirely.

Blake Ruffino smells sus with Tony Petitti and how he runs the board

Blake Ruffino didn’t hold back when describing Tony Petitti’s actions. He calls them “sleazy.” He says the Big Ten commissioner has been secretive and dismissive toward the very people he’s supposed to work with. Petitti has even told some board members that their vote is not required and their input is not required for decision-making. That makes the situation look much more suspicious than it already is.

Ruffino questions why Petitti would hide important details from university leaders if everything he’s doing is legitimate. He believes that transparency should be the bare minimum when making big financial or structural decisions for the conference. If the plan truly benefits everyone, Ruffino argues, there should be no reason to keep people in the dark.

To make his point clearer, Ruffino compares Petitti’s behavior to being dishonest in a relationship. “You know who else holds back details when they’re doing something they’re not supposed to be doing? Cheaters,” he says. That kind of secrecy usually means someone is “doing something sketchy,” and he worries that Petitti’s actions fit that pattern.

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