The Pac-12 has taken legal action against the Mountain West, claiming that the conference’s “poaching penalty” is unfair and could cost them over $40 million. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, argues that the penalty is anticompetitive and unlawful.
The Mountain West has imposed exit fees of up to $17 million for schools leaving the conference, with additional poaching fees for schools that are added to the Pac-12. The total penalty for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, and San Diego State is $43 million. The Pac-12 has also extended invitations to Utah State and UNLV, which could cost them an additional $24.5 million.
The Pac-12 contends that the existing exit fees in place by the Mountain West are sufficient compensation for departing members, and that the poaching penalty is unjustified. The lawsuit argues that the penalty only serves to increase the Mountain West’s profits by preventing member schools from leaving for a competitor like the Pac-12.
The initial phase of Pac-12 expansion included adding four Mountain West football programs, followed by attempts to recruit American Athletic Conference schools. However, after being turned down by AAC schools, the Pac-12 returned to Mountain West schools. The Mountain West, on the other hand, was in the process of solidifying its remaining members through a television rights agreement.
As the legal battle between the Pac-12 and the Mountain West unfolds, the future of both conferences remains uncertain. The outcome of the lawsuit could have significant implications for the landscape of collegiate athletics and conference alignments moving forward. Stay tuned for updates as the situation develops.
