Pac-12 Sues Mountain West Over $43M 'Poaching' Penalty Amid Expansion
The lawsuit follows the Pac-12's addition of five Mountain West schools, with the conference aiming to rebuild after significant member losses.
- The Pac-12 has filed a federal lawsuit against the Mountain West, challenging a 'poaching penalty' that could cost over $40 million.
- The lawsuit claims the penalty is anticompetitive and seeks a declaratory judgment to invalidate it.
- The Pac-12 recently added Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Utah State from the Mountain West.
- The Mountain West stands to gain substantial exit and poaching fees from the departures, estimated at around $110 million.
- The Pac-12 needs one more member to meet the NCAA's minimum of eight football schools for conference recognition.
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