The Pac-12 conference is suing the Mountain West over a “poaching penalty” that would cost them over $40 million for adding four schools from the Mountain West. The lawsuit claims that the penalty is anticompetitive and unlawful. The Mountain West has not yet responded to the lawsuit.
The Pac-12 had extended invitations to two more Mountain West schools, Utah State and UNLV, which would further increase the penalty to $24.5 million. The Pac-12 argues that the severe exit fees already in place by the Mountain West should compensate for any lost members.
The scheduling agreement between Oregon State, Washington State, and the Mountain West was not renewed, leading to the Pac-12 adding more schools from the Mountain West. The lawsuit contends that the poaching penalty does not serve any legitimate purpose and only benefits the Mountain West in preventing member schools from leaving for a competitor.
As both conferences navigate these legal issues and potential expansion, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. The Pac-12 needs at least eight members by 2026 to be recognized as a conference by the NCAA and College Football Playoff, and the lawsuit could impact the future relationships between the two conferences.
Source
Photo credit www.denver7.com
