We always think of sports as being more about touchdowns, winning trophies, and all that, but some of you must have seen or experienced that nasty politics going on in this field as well. Right? Well, that’s pretty much what is going on with this Mountain West Schools Lawsuit at the moment. And for those who have no idea about it yet, well, this case is more about money, mistrust, secret moves, and three fired-up universities going head-to-head with their own conference. Just keep on reading the details of this case and you’ll come to know the politics that is going on in this case and how bad it is for the actual students who just want to play sports and win trophies.
What’s Actually Happening?
Let’s start with the basics. Who is involved, what’s the matter with, and why is everyone talking about it?
Boise State, Colorado State, and Utah State are three educational institutions that are currently members of the Mountain West Conference (MWC), but three years later, they will be joining the Pac-12. However, the schools have not yet parted ways with the conference, and they are suing the Mountain West, in fact, the very conference they have been competing with for years.
Why? As per their viewpoint, the Mountain West is basically keeping cash that should have been returned to the educational institutions. The conversation revolves around the money the schools could have gotten for trips, athletics, and football playoff winnings. Moreover, they are inciting the scene even more by stating that the GCU board was secretly voted in without them knowing. Here is all unpacked.
Who’s Suing Whom?
Boise State, Colorado State, and Utah State are filing a lawsuit against the Mountain West. The three schools are throwing such accusations at the conference, along with misconduct in managing funds and making decisions.
The Mountain West Conference, as well as its commissioner, Gloria Nevarez, are the ones who have been affected by the situation. The schools that have brought the case say that she is the one who has made the decisions that they are questioning now.
What Triggered the Lawsuit?
These three institutions made it public in 2024 that they would leave the Mountain West after two years, in 2026. The day after, the MWC made a decision to ban a number of payments that were due to the three schools for an indefinite time. Moreover, this was no minor freezing operation, such as:
- Boise State’s share of its 2024 college football playoff appearance
- NCAA revenue, meant to support student-athletes (travel, books, training, etc.)
- Reimbursements for previously incurred expenses
Schools state that the withholding is an act against them because of their dismissal.
What’s the Deal with Exit Fees?
On top of that, the departure cost is a major factor in the legal action. The Mountain West is requesting a payment in the range of $19 to $38 million for each institution as a way of a mere exit from the conference, which is substantial money right there.
But the thing is that these schools were the ones that helped establish those exit fee regulations a while back. They went as far as backing the implementation of the regulations at San Diego State when that university was planning a breakaway.
Not long ago, the Mountain West was telling the group how to behave according to the given rules. The most recent announcement says that they are not subject to those same rules. The Mountain West is not only pointing out that they are contradicting their previous position, but it is also saying that they are being disingenuous by suddenly giving up the terms they once observed.