The Big Ten conference is looking to make significant changes, proposing a private capital deal for a large investment. The deal will bring in funds for each Big Ten school, but the USC Trojans are one of two programs pushing against the deal.

In her latest “State of Troy” update, USC’s athletic director discussed the controversial proposed deal regarding the Big Ten and private equity

A wild Week 13 in the Big Ten led to a number of changes in the conference power rankings, including a new team at the No. 4 spot.

The Big Ten, one of the superpowers in college football, may be gearing up for some infighting over a $2.4 billion infusion via private equity.

Reportedly, the Trojans' hesitation with the new Big Ten investment deal has to do with being disrespected by the conference. This is thorny

USC-Oregon is a pivotal matchup Saturday in Eugene, while Michigan's narrow win over Northwestern last week kept the Wolverines in the playoff conversation. USC's rain-soaked win over Iowa was effectively a playoff elimination game for the Trojans, and similar stakes accompany their Week 13 clash with the Ducks.

The conference was trying to strike the deal with a California pension fund in exchange for a 10% stake in Big Ten Enterprises.

While the cash infusion has received the bulk of the attention, the aspect of the deal that truly matters is the 10-year extension of the Big Ten’s grant-of-rights, from 2036 to 2046. That change would bind all 18 schools together and prevent the blue bloods from leaving everyone behind.

Petitti was prepared to go forward on a deal by which UC Investments, a public pension plan manager, would pay the league $2.4 billion for a 10 percent cut of a new company, Big Ten Enterprises, even if two holdouts, Michigan and USC, refused to sign on.