Washington State and Oregon State take the Pac-12 to court with clear goal in mind

Washington State University and Oregon State University are taking the Pac-12 Conference to court.

You can get fuller details from Jon Wilner of the San Jose Mercury News and the Wilner Hotline, in a story which is behind a paywall. A subscription is required to view the link.

We will share details from the article and explain why this is happening, but it’s the latest drama for a Pac-12 conference which never should have been in this position. Had the conference stayed together and taken last year’s ESPN deal (for $30 million per school, easily enough to keep members satisfied), we would not be having this conversation. More urgently, WSU and OSU would not have taken the Pac-12 to court.

Here’s what you need to know about this situation:

LAWSUIT

Sep 17, 2022; Pullman, Washington, USA; Washington State Cougars director of athletics Pat Chun looks on before a game against the Colorado State Rams at Gesa Field at Martin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports

Jon Wilner lays out what’s happening here:

“The presidents of Washington State and Oregon State are taking the Pac-12 to court in order to gain clarity on voting rights and control of assets as the collapse of a century-old college sports institution veers toward an internecine feud.

“The only remaining members of the Pac-12 as of next summer, WSU and OSU filed a joint complaint Friday in Whitman County (Washington) Superior Court that seeks to determine the makeup of the Pac-12 board of directors following the announced departures of 10 schools, according to documents obtained by the Hotline.”

GEORGE KLIAVKOFF

Dec 3, 2021; Las Vegas. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Let’s give you various details about the lawsuit and what it means. Let’s start with this: Both the Pac-12 and Commissioner George Kliavkoff have been named as defendants in the case.

DON’T WORRY, OTHERS

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

This is a key point: This legal complaint isn’t an attempt to punish all of the outgoing programs. It is more an attempt by Washington State and Oregon State to gain control of the Pac-12 Board of Directors and shape who votes and who doesn’t. The other schools aren’t being asked to pay some kind of exit or penalty fee. Washington State and Oregon State merely want to control what is left of the Pac-12 (aka, the Pac-2 or 2-Pac).

MOUNTAIN WEST QUESTIONS

Sep 10, 2016; Colorado Springs Mandatory Credit: Ray Carlin-USA TODAY Sports

The Pac-12 and MWC have discussed a merger, but it would greatly affect Washington State and Oregon State. How the parties do this is important. What Washington State and Oregon State would like to do is have a process in which the Pac-12 isn’t dissolved. This would be huge on two different levels:

First, if the Pac-12 dissolves (officially dies), remaining assets are split among the 12 schools, including USC and UCLA. If the Pac-12 stays intact as a legal entity, Oregon State and Washington State could conceivably be in a position to claim the assets for themselves, or at least be in a position where they can claim most of them before inviting Mountain West schools into the conference in a new collection of institutions.

Second, if the Pac-12 does not dissolve, WSU and OSU would be in a position to retain College Football Playoff, bowl game, and NCAA Tournament distributions of funds.

You can see why this legal battle over control of the board — and what each school is entitled to — is necessary for Washington State and Oregon State.

That’s the endgame for WSU and OSU here. If the Cougars and Beavers can do this, they might not endure a financial bloodbath after all.

SEPTEMBER 13 BOARD MEETING

Jul 27, 2021; Hollywood, CA. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

There is a board meeting scheduled, and the WSU-OSU combo hopes to have the final say in what will happen. We will see what the courts have to say about this.

MORE CONTEXTLOTS OF PLOT TWISTS AHEADCHAOSCONTROL OF PAC-12 FINANCESBEAVERS APPROVEPRECEDENT HAS BEEN SETKEY DETAIL

Once again: If the Pac-12 dissolves, Arizona State and the other Four Corners schools which went to the Big 12 would get some of the Pac-12’s assets. If the Pac-12 stays intact, they don’t, and Washington State and Oregon State would get a lot more control over those assets.

UNDERSTANDABLY SOTHE CEO GROUP IS WORSE THAN BOTHVERY UGLYPEOPLE ARE ROOTING FOR WAZZU AND OSU

Story originally appeared on Trojans Wire