Oregon State and Washington State Settle Legal Battle with Departing Pac-12 Schools

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 on Thursday.

Agreement Details

The outgoing schools have agreed to forfeit a portion of distributions over the rest of the 2023-2024 year and provide specific guarantees against potential future liabilities, according to a joint statement by Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy and Washington State president Kirk Schulz. The conference will retain its assets and all future revenues.

Regaining Control

Last week, Oregon State and Washington State regained control of the Pac-12 board and the conference’s assets following a decision by the Washington Supreme Court. The court declined to hear an appeal by the University of Washington and the Pac-12, lifting a temporary stay that had halted an original decision by the Whitman County Superior Court to give the two schools control of the conference.

The decision granted Oregon State and Washington State control of the league until a trial or settlement between the sides.

Concerns and Resolutions

Oregon State and Washington State had concerns 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. They were also worried that the departing schools could vote to dissolve the conference and split up the assets.

The departing schools, on the other hand, expressed concerns that Oregon State and Washington State could withhold all 2023-24 conference revenue while they are still part of the league. However, they agreed that Oregon State and Washington State can keep all future revenues and assets after they leave next summer.

Significance of the Agreement

According to Murthy and Schulz, this agreement marks a huge victory for the universities and a significant step toward stabilizing the Pac-12 Conference and preserving its 108-year legacy. They believe that this agreement ensures that the future of the Pac-12 will be decided by the schools that are staying, not those that are leaving.

Next Steps for Oregon State and Washington State

With the legal dispute behind them, Oregon State and Washington State can now focus on moving forward. They have gained control of the league’s assets and governance, allowing them to explore the possibility of back-filling the league and keeping the Pac-12 brand alive. They have also secured a football scheduling agreement with the Mountain West for next season and are placing most of their other sports in the West Coast Conference.

These two schools have come a long way since August and have found transitional homes and temporary solutions. They now have the time they need to figure out their long-term plans, which is a significant win for them.

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(Photo: Kirby Lee / USA Today)