OMAHA, Neb. - University of Nebraska regents approved a $9.25 million settlement Friday that clears the way for the school to leave the Big 12 Conference next year for the Big Ten without going to court.
The regents approved the deal without public discussion at a meeting in Omaha. Nebraska will become a part of the Big Ten on July 1.
The Big 12, under its bylaws, had sought to withhold 80 percent of Nebraska's slice of the conference payout for 2009-10, and its projected distribution for 2010-11. That would have been an estimated $19.4 million.
The settlement allows Nebraska to make a clean break and avoid having the matter settled in court.
Nebraska can reduce its penalty to $8.755 million if the Cornhuskers are one of two Big 12 teams to play in a BCS bowl game this season. The league already is guaranteed one BCS spot.
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Nebraska's money - along with a conference settlement with Colorado, which is moving for the Pac-10 - will be split among the 10 remaining Big 12 schools.
Separately, the regents approved plans for a $56 million expansion of 87-year-old Memorial Stadium, a plan that will boost capacity to about 90,000 fans. Athletic director Tom Osborne has said it's necessary to keep the stadium competitive with Big Ten facilities, some of which hold more than 100,000.
Nebraska's move also will mean more money. The Big Ten distributed $22 million to each of its schools last year. Over the past four years, Nebraska received approximately $10 million annually in revenue from the Big 12.
Ex-Vols linebacker to be honored in December
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Former Tennessee linebacker Al Wilson will be honored in the 2010 Southeastern Conference Football Legends Class during the weekend of the league championship game in December.
Wilson was the captain of the Volunteers' 1998 national championship team and was taken in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, where he played for eight seasons.
Wilson ranked third on Tennessee's 1998 team with 77 tackles, despite missing three games with an injury. He had 12 tackles and forced a school-record three fumbles in a win over Florida that season.
With the Broncos, he passed the 100-tackle mark in each of his last five seasons and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection.
Wilson and representatives from the other SEC schools will be honored during a dinner in Atlanta on Dec. 3 and recognized before the championship game on Dec. 4.
