In another possible blow to a UCLA athletic department awash in debt, the president of the University of California system is recommending that the Bruins pay sister school California a fee of $10 million a year through 2029-30 for leaving the Golden Bears to scramble for a new home after UCLA's move to the Big Ten conference led the dismantling of the Pac-12. The recommendation from UC president Michael V.
The payment known as “Calimony” will penalize UCLA after the school announced in June 2022 that it was leaving for the Big Ten and a much richer media rights deal starting in August 2024. Cal subsequently agreed to join the Atlantic Coast Conference while taking a reduced share of the conference’s media rights deal. If enacted, this payment would put another dent in UCLA’s athletic budget. The Bruins have run up $167.