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 $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 alongside USC contributed to the dismantling of the Pac-12.

The proposed subsidy, based on a projected $50-million difference per year in revenue between the schools’ athletic departments, is at the high end of the $2-million-to-$10-million annual payment that was discussed in December 2022 when the UC regents approved UCLA’s departure to the Big Ten.

The recommendation from UC president Michael V. Drake, which would start this year and run through the existing term of UCLA’s contract with the Big Ten, is expected to be discussed at the board of regents meeting May 14 to 16 at UC Merced. The regents could elect to reduce or adopt the suggested payment.

A $10 million annual payment on top of the amount UCLA has committed to spending to support its athletes — as much as $10.32 million a year for enhanced nutrition, mental health and academic tutoring in addition to more chartered flights to mitigate travel challenges — could put the Bruins at a competitive disadvantage against other Big Ten schools.

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 alongside Stanford and Southern Methodist 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 $167.7 million in debt since the 2019 fiscal year, one of the reasons the school sought an infusion of cash as part of its move to the Big Ten.

UCLA and the other Big Ten schools are projected to receive an annual media rights payment of roughly $60 million as opposed to around $11 million a year for Cal during its first seven years of membership in the ACC. Cal will receive larger percentages of the conference’s revenue pot over the next two years before getting a full share in Year 10.

“This is a materially different outcome for UC Berkeley than what was projected in December 2022 when there was still optimism about the follow-on Pac-12 media rights deal,” Drake wrote in suggesting the maximum possible subsidy.

The letter also suggested that if there was a change in revenues or expenses for either school exceeding 10% over the 2024-25 figures, the regents would further discuss UCLA’s payment to adjust accordingly.

Cal‘s athletic department is facing dire financial challenges of its own, requiring a reported $30 million in subsidies from the campus during the 2023 fiscal year to balance its budget. The letter from Drake’s office alluded to the measures that Cal was expected to take to address its financial shortfall.

“These include the development of new department revenue streams, additional philanthropic support, consolidating athletic scholarships to the campus Financial Aid and Scholarships Office,” the letter read, “and an additional extraordinary payout from athletics-related endowed funds.”

A federal judge handed down a 40-month sentence after NBA player Glen “Big Baby” Davis was convicted in a scheme to defraud a health care benefits plan.

Last November, Davis was found guilty of health care fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to make false statements, and conspiracy to commit health care and wire fraud. The convictions carried a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

In addition to the prison sentence, Davis will be subjected to supervised release for three years. During that time, Davis will have to attend a financial management class and undergo mandatory drug treatment as conditions of his release.

More than 20 people have been charged and sentenced for their roles in the scheme, which involved filing inaccurate medical claims with the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan, according to the indictment.

FORMER NBA PLAYER BRYN FORBES ARRESTED ON FAMILY FELONY VIOLENCE CHARGE ONE YEAR AFTER MISDEMEANOR ASSAULT

Terrence Williams was one of the individuals who was sentenced in the case.

Terrence Williams of the New Jersey Nets is shown during the game against the Houston Rockets in Guangzhou, China, on Oct. 16, 2010. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Williams, who was the 11th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, pleaded guilty to piracy and aggravated identity theft. He also admitted he led the plan to submit false claims for medical and dental expenses.

“Williams led a scheme involving more than 18 former NBA players, a dentist, a doctor, and a chiropractor, to defraud the NBA Players’ Health and Welfare Benefit Plan of millions of dollars,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said in a statement in August 2022. “Williams also impersonated others to help him take what was not his — money that belonged to the Plan.”

Terrence Williams of the Sacramento Kings is shown during the game against the New Jersey Nets in Sacramento, California, on March 31, 2012. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Williams has agreed to pay restitution of $2.5 million and pay a fine of more than $650,000.

Davis was a member of the Boston Celtics 2008 NBA championship team. He was ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution.  

Fox News’ Ryan Morik contributed to this report.

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The Rams, preparing to build on last season’s unexpected run to the playoffs, continued to reshape their roster on Thursday by trading receiver and special teams leader Ben Skowronek to the Houston Texans, a person with knowledge of the deal not authorized to speak publicly said.

The person requested anonymity because the trade, which will also include the Rams sending a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Texans for a 2026 sixth-round pick, had not been announced.

Skowronek, a seventh-round draft pick in 2021, was a key special teams player, rotational receiver and occasional fullback for Rams teams that won the Super Bowl to end the 2021 season and made the playoffs last season.

The Rams receiving corps now includes star veteran Cooper Kupp, second-year pro Puka Nacua, veteran Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell — a former second-round pick entering the final year of his rookie contract — and rookie Jordan Whittington.

Skowronek, due to earn about $1 million this season, according to Overthecap.com, enjoyed his most productive season as a receiver in 2022, when he caught 39 passes for 376 yards.

Last season, Skowronek played through several injuries but caught only eight passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.