Editor's note: Story originally published before Pac-12 officially announced addition of Utah State.The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what it calls an
A Colorado State fan holds up a sign to mark the school's move to the Pac-12 Conference from the Mountain West during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Fort Collins, Colo.
The Mountain West has exit fees of upward of $17 million for departing schools. Those fees can increase depending on how much advance notice a school provides, and are not at issue in the lawsuit. Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez said in a statement the Pac-12 agreed to the fees and acknowledged that they were essential to her conference members.
"This move unlocks new possibilities by directly enhancing the student-athlete experience and will significantly strengthen our reputation for competitive success, academic achievement, and research excellence," Utah State President Elizabeth Cantwell said. The Pac-12 argues the poaching penalty had nothing to do with the intent of the deal between Oregon State and Washington State and the Mountain West, which was to provide those schools with six football opponents this year for a $14 million payment to the league.
By 2026, the Pac-12 needs at least eight members to be recognized as a conference by the NCAA and CFP.
Mountain West Lawsuit Poaching Penalty Boise State Fresno State Utah State NCAA
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