THE Pac12 is alive again

[BMR Genie]

Gonzaga to the PAC confirmed.

No sue attached?

 

[jjgold]

I like the move

 

[quantumleap]

Four schools are set to announce as early as Thursday that they plan to depart the Mountain West Conference to join the Pac-12, sources confirmed to ESPN.

Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Fresno State have applied for Pac-12 membership to begin in the 2026-27 academic year, sources said.

Add in Gonzaga and Utah State to total 8 with current members Oregon State and Washington State.

 

[Tanko]

Add in Gonzaga and Utah State to total 8 with current members Oregon State and Washington State.

Is Utah St. a done deal to join?

 

[209life]

Is Utah St. a done deal to join?

Yes

 

[MinnesotaFats]

How Mountain West Can Defend ‘Poaching Penalty’ in Pac-12 Suit

The Mountain West is accused by the Pac-12 of violating antitrust law by imposing an alleged "poaching penalty" but the conference has defenses.

www.sportico.com

Going to be a lot of litigation

 

[209life]

Alot of chatter this morning about Texas State going to PAC-12 to get to 8 football members

 

[jjgold]

If you’re a fan, you care if you’re a gambler, it doesn’t matter who’s and who’s conference

 

[Tanko]

Alot of chatter this morning about Texas State going to PAC-12 to get to 8 football members

Holy crap.... That would be amazing.
They are just starting to get good in the big-boy league (FBS)

 

[209life]

The PAC-12 & MWC have begun to mediate exit/poaching fees lawsuits

The Mountain West and Pac-12, along with Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State, have agreed to enter mediation related to the ongoing lawsuits related to school exit fees and a poaching penalty the Mountain West included in a scheduling agreement with the Pac-12, sources told ESPN.

It is a common step that could lead to settlements before the sides take their chances in court, however, a source told ESPN that, as of Wednesday evening, it was an informal agreement. The Mountain West initiated the talks, a source said.

In September, the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the legality of a "poaching penalty" included in a football scheduling agreement it signed with the Mountain West in December 2023. As part of the agreement, the Mountain West included language that calls for the Pac-12 to pay a fee of $10 million if a school left the Mountain West for the Pac-12, with escalators of $500,000 for each additional school.

Five schools -- Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State -- announced they were leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 in 2026, which the Mountain West believes should require a $55 million payout from the Pac-12.

In December, Colorado State and Utah State filed a separate lawsuit against the Mountain West, seeking to avoid having to pay exit fees that could range from $19 million to $38 million, with Boise State later joining the lawsuit. Neither Fresno State, nor San Diego State has challenged the Mountain West exit fees in court.

 

[BMR Genie]

The PAC-12 & MWC have begun to mediate exit/poaching fees lawsuits

The Mountain West and Pac-12, along with Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State, have agreed to enter mediation related to the ongoing lawsuits related to school exit fees and a poaching penalty the Mountain West included in a scheduling agreement with the Pac-12, sources told ESPN.

It is a common step that could lead to settlements before the sides take their chances in court, however, a source told ESPN that, as of Wednesday evening, it was an informal agreement. The Mountain West initiated the talks, a source said.

In September, the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging the legality of a "poaching penalty" included in a football scheduling agreement it signed with the Mountain West in December 2023. As part of the agreement, the Mountain West included language that calls for the Pac-12 to pay a fee of $10 million if a school left the Mountain West for the Pac-12, with escalators of $500,000 for each additional school.

Five schools -- Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State -- announced they were leaving the Mountain West for the Pac-12 in 2026, which the Mountain West believes should require a $55 million payout from the Pac-12.

In December, Colorado State and Utah State filed a separate lawsuit against the Mountain West, seeking to avoid having to pay exit fees that could range from $19 million to $38 million, with Boise State later joining the lawsuit. Neither Fresno State, nor San Diego State has challenged the Mountain West exit fees in court.

What a great time to be a lawyer in this case. Lots of $$$$

 

[209life]

What a great time to be a lawyer in this case. Lots of $$$$

Billable hours = undefeated