Pac-12 legal battle settled as Oregon State and Washington State regain control
In a significant development, Oregon State and Washington State have reached an agreement in principle with the 10 departing Pac-12 schools to settle their ongoing legal battle over control of the conference’s board and assets. The 12 universities announced their agreement on Thursday, marking a major milestone in the resolution of the dispute.
According to a joint statement by Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy and Washington State president Kirk Schulz, the outgoing schools have agreed to forfeit a portion of distributions over the rest of the 2023-2024 year and provide guarantees against potential future liabilities. Furthermore, the conference will retain its assets and all future revenues. The agreement also calls for the vast majority of funds earned in 2023-24 to be distributed equally among the 12 members.
The decision comes following last week’s ruling by the Washington Supreme Court, which saw Oregon State and Washington State regaining control of the Pac-12 board and assets. The court declined to hear an appeal by the University of Washington and the Pac-12, thus lifting a temporary stay that had previously halted an original decision by the Whitman County (Wash.) Superior Court.
This agreement marks a turning point for Oregon State and Washington State, who have been actively working to resolve their next steps following the Pac-12’s collapse. The original case was based on the argument that the departing members forfeited their rights to be on the board and make conference decisions when they announced their intentions to join other conferences.
With this legal dispute now behind them, the focus for Oregon State and Washington State will be on moving forward and solidifying the future of their athletic programs. The schools have secured transitional homes and temporary solutions, paving the way for a strategic exploration of long-term options to ensure the stability and continuity of the Pac-12 brand.
The resolution is being hailed as a significant victory for the universities involved and a crucial step toward stabilizing the Pac-12 Conference, underscoring the commitment to preserving its 108-year legacy.
In the wake of the agreement, the West Coast Conference has voted to add Oregon State and Washington State as affiliate members in most non-football sports for the 2024-25 academic year, while the two schools have also finalized a one-year football scheduling agreement with the Mountain West for next season.
Overall, the agreement marks a major breakthrough in the ongoing dispute and sets the stage for the next chapter in the history of the Pac-12 Conference.