Been there, done that: UC regents meet, discuss UCLA’s situation, then call in the punter

The University of California Board of Regents on Thursday decided to not decide whether it will approve UCLA’s planned move to the Big Ten in 2024.

That’s right, the regents put the decision off for another month.

At the outset of an open session at UCSF, chair Richard Leib announced a special session would be held Dec. 14 to finalize a decision.

That gathering is expected to take place at UCLA, where the regents have another meeting (of the Health Services committee) already on the schedule.

The regents discussed UCLA in both closed and open session on Thursday with chancellor Gene Block and athletic director Martin Jarmond in attendance.

There are at least three potential outcomes to a saga that began in August, when the regents discussed UCLA for the first time:

— The board could block UCLA’s move using regental authority that was confirmed by general counsel Charlie Robinson during an August meeting.

— The regents could allow the move to proceed as planned but attach a penalty, or subsidy, to compensate Cal’s athletic department for a decline in Pac-12 revenue resulting from UCLA’s departure.

— The regents could, after months of discussion, wipe their hands of the matter and let the Bruins enter the Big Ten unencumbered.

The month-long delay announced Thursday could have implications for the Pac-12’s ongoing media rights negotiations.