• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Oregon State And Washington State Take the Pac-12 To Court

  • On Friday, Oregon State and Washington State filed a lawsuit against the Pac-12 and commissioner George Kliavkoff.
  • They’re asking for a state court to affirm they have control of the conference after the latest round of realignment. 
Pac-12
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday, lone Pac-12 members Oregon State and Washington State filed a lawsuit against the conference and commissioner George Kliavkoff asking for a court to affirm they have control of the conference after the latest round of realignment. 

“WSU and OSU are working in lockstep to identify the best path forward,” Washington State president Kirk Schulz said in a statement. “The future of the Pac-12 must be determined by the remaining members, not by those who are leaving.”

The Mercury News first reported the lawsuit. 

As of now, Washington State and Oregon State will be the Pac-12’s only members come 2024. The schools noted in a release that Pac-12 bylaws state that any future departing members immediately cease voting power on the Pac-12’s Board of Directors — suggesting that Oregon State and Washington State would assume immediate control over the conference.

The lawsuit claims Kliavkoff has ignored that rule, calling a board meeting for Sept. 13 that includes representatives from departing schools. To “circumvent” the rule, according to court documents, Kliavkoff called it a meeting of “CEOs” rather than a meeting of the “Pac-12 Board of Directors.”

As a result, Washington State and Oregon State are asking the court to prohibit Kliavkoff from holding any board meetings with departing members, or allowing them to make decisions about the conference.

“The ten departing members have a significant financial incentive to dissolve the Pac-12 before their departures,” the schools said in court documents. “If the Pac-12 Conference dissolved, its remaining assets and property would be distributed to all twelve members of the Conference.”

Oregon State and Washington State are trying to retain sole access to the conference’s money, from future NCAA distributions and emergency fund to The Pac-12 Networks. Not including the Pac-12 Networks, the conference had $43 million in net total assets last year, and brought in $581 million in revenue, according to court documents. The networks themselves raked in $117 million in revenue, and had $77 million in operating expenses.

(The schools could, however, assume certain liabilities like legal fees for lawsuits against the conference or money the Pac-12 owes Comcast.)

Oregon and Washington are desperate for clarity as they consider their next options: rebuilding the existing Pac-12 or defecting to the Mountain West (and potentially taking the Pac-12 name with them.)

The Pac-12 declined to comment.

Editor’s Note: This story will be updated.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.
Paige Bueckers
exclusive

Women’s March Madness Expansion Wouldn’t Yield More ESPN Money

ESPN is not required to pay extra if women’s March Madness expands.
A helmt is seen during the Texas Tech football team's spring game, Saturday, April 19, 2025, at Jones AT&T Stadium.

CFB’s Revenue-Sharing Era Muddles Future of NIL, Adds PE Questions

Athletic departments can pay college athletes a combined $20.5 million this year.
Nov 30, 2024; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders running back Tahj Brooks (28) runs the ball against West Virginia Mountaineers defensive back Anthony Wilson Jr. (12) in the second half at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.

Felix Ojo’s Agent Says Texas Tech Offered $5.1M At Start of Rev-Share..

Texas Tech secured Ojo with a seven-figure NIL commitment.

Featured Today

Rimouski, QC - JUNE 1: Final Game of the 2025 Memorial Cup between the Medicine Hats Tigers and the London Knights on June 1, 2025, at the Colisée Financière Sun Life in Rimouski, Qc.

CHL Is Facing a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of Questions Amid NCAA Talent Departure

As players defect to college, the Canadian Hockey League won’t cede ground.
Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.
July 9, 2025

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.

NCAA: March Madness Expansion to 76 Teams ‘Still Viable’ for 2026

Negotiations continue with media rights holder CBS and TNT Sports.
July 10, 2025

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.
The Florida State Seminoles hosted the Florida Gators at Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
July 10, 2025

Athletic Departments Express Renewed Interest in PE in Wake of House Settlement

Schools now have more expenses—and are looking for creative solutions.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Apr 4, 2025; Tampa, FL, USA; Connecticut Huskies guard KK Arnold (2)1 dribbles against UCLA Bruins forward Angela Dugalic (32) during the third quarter in a semifinal of the women's 2025 NCAA tournament at Amalie Arena.
July 10, 2025

‘Kind of a Joke’: Frustrations Mount As New NIL Deal Approval Process..

Delays have already led to athletes losing NIL opportunities.
Sebastian Rivera (R) tf. Danny Coles 6:47 (20-3). Rutgers University Wrestling vs Princeton in Piscataway, NJ on February 18, 2022.
July 9, 2025

The House Settlement Is Being Appealed. It Won’t Stop Revenue-Sharing—for Now

The settlement’s approval on June 6 triggered an appeals process.
July 9, 2025

Big Ten, Big 12 Commissioners Remain Far Apart on CFP’s Future

A decision on expansion must be made by December.
TSU Hockey at Bridgestone
July 8, 2025

Tennessee State’s HBCU Hockey Ambitions Delayed at Least a Year

The school will not launch the first-of-its-kind program as intended.