Add another lawsuit to the fight over college sports realignment on the West Coast. During a time when the focus should be on the start of the 2025 football season, Colorado State, Boise State and Utah State are taking direct aim at their own conference.
Why is there another realignment lawsuit?
The three schools, which are leaving to join the PAC-12 conference next year, are suing the Mountain West, accusing the league of improperly withholding tens of millions of dollars in payments.
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The law firm O’Melveny released a statement detailing the complaint, saying, “The Mountain West is currently withholding millions due to the departing schools from the NCAA, including NCAA grant-in-aid and other monies specifically designed to promote academic programs and student-athlete well-being.”
That sum also includes payments from the NCAA that the conference earned due to Boise State’s appearance in last season’s College Football Playoff, which the schools said should be evenly distributed to each member, even those departing.
What is the conference’s reaction to the filing?
The new filing will be added to the existing lawsuit regarding the five schools that have left the conference and the penalties they must pay. That will drag out the process even further, something Mountain West Commissioner Gloria Nevarez wants to avoid.
“We’re really confident in our legal position and we’re committed to resolving this as quickly as possible,” Nevarez said during football media day in July. “I think it’s best for everyone. Student athletes, schools, leagues, to move on so our commitment is to get through these as quick as possible.”
The three outgoing schools maintain that the Mountain West is withholding the NCAA payments as part of their exit fee penalties. They argue that those exit fees, which could range from $19 million to $38 million, are unlawful and not enforceable.
“We are disappointed that the Mountain West continues to improperly retaliate against the departing members and their student athletes,” the O’Melveny law firm said. “We will seek all appropriate relief from the court to protect our clients’ rights and interests.”
How is Grand Canyon University involved?
The lawsuit also claims the Mountain West, and specifically Nevarez, concealed a plan for Phoenix-based Grand Canyon University to join the conference starting in 2025 without informing the departing schools. That move comes a year earlier than planned and could impact travel schedules, expenses and future postseason bids.
Lawyers for the schools said they have “worked in good faith to resolve the matter,” adding, “Unfortunately during that same period, actions taken by the Mountain West and Commissioner Nevarez have raised serious concerns regarding their fairness and transparency.”
In a separate legal matter, the Mountain West and PAC-12 have sued each other over a $55 million “poaching fee” the Mountain West is charging for the departures of five schools, including Colorado State, Utah State and Boise State.
The legal battles may take months or even years to resolve, but for one more season at least, all 12 current member schools will have to compete under the same banner.
