Oregon State and Washington State have been granted a preliminary injunction by a judge in their legal battle with 10 departing Pac-12 schools. This ruling gives the two schools control of the conference and its assets. Now that this legal hurdle has been cleared, Oregon State and Washington State can begin determining the future of the Pac-12 and which schools they will compete against next year.
In a statement, Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy and athletic director Scott Barnes expressed their commitment to making decisions that are in the best interest of the conference and its student-athletes. They also emphasized their intention to seek collaboration and consultation with the departing universities.
The ruling, made by Judge Gary Libey in Whitman County Superior Court, designates Oregon State and Washington State as the sole members responsible for making decisions regarding Pac-12 business. However, the outgoing Pac-12 schools have stated that they will appeal the ruling.
Libey assured that despite the legal proceedings, the Pac-12 will continue its operations and the athletes will still compete. He emphasized that the conference will be governed by the two universities that have not submitted their notice of withdrawal.
Representatives from Washington State, including athletic director Pat Chun and university president Kirk Schulz, attended the hearing and expressed their satisfaction with the court’s decision.
Oregon State and Washington State initially took the Pac-12 and Commissioner George Kliavkoff to court in September, receiving a temporary restraining order. However, the conference was allowed to conduct day-to-day business as long as decisions had unanimous approval from all 12 schools.
Over the summer, eight Pac-12 schools announced their departure from the conference to join other Power Five leagues, leaving only Oregon State and Washington State committed to the Pac-12 long-term. Officials from both schools decided that the best course of action is to rebuild the conference.
Oregon State and Washington State argue that according to Pac-12 bylaws, schools that announce their departure forfeit their right to be part of the board of directors and have no say in decisions that could impact the conference’s long-term viability. They expressed concerns that the departing schools would vote to dissolve the conference and distribute its assets among themselves.
The judge agreed with Oregon State and Washington State’s claims, stating that actions speak louder than words. The departing schools argue that conference rules grant them the right to be involved in the conference’s operations until they officially leave next year. They also claim that the two schools are attempting to seize over $400 million in revenue that the Pac-12 is expected to receive this year.
Libey warned Oregon State and Washington State that they must give notice of any decisions that could impact the departing schools and cautioned that unfair treatment could lead to further legal action.
As the clock ticks for Oregon State and Washington State to make plans for next season, a two-school conference is a possibility, allowed temporarily by the NCAA. However, the two schools cannot solely compete against each other. To complete schedules in all sports, they have discussed a potential partnership with the Mountain West, but the details of this alliance still need to be worked out.
Additionally, the Pac-12 currently does not have a media rights deal beyond this season. Both Oregon State and Washington State acknowledge that they will face a significant drop in revenue as the Pac-12 loses its Power Five status.
Overall, this ruling grants Oregon State and Washington State control over the Pac-12 and its assets, allowing them to determine the future of the conference. However, the legal battle is not yet over as the departing schools plan to appeal the decision.
