Pac-12 files federal lawsuit against Mountain West over $43 million in ‘poaching’ fines

The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over what it calls an unlawful and unenforceable “poaching penalty” that could cost the rebuilding conference more than $40 million for adding Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State and San Diego State, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court.

The antitrust complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and seeks a declaratory judgment from a judge.

“The action challenges the anticompetitive and unlawful ‘poaching penalty’ that the MWC imposed on the Pac-12 to make it more difficult for member schools to compete in college sports,” the lawsuit reads.

The Mountain West is charging more than $17 million in exit fees for schools leaving. Those fees could increase depending on how much notice a school gives. There are also poaching fees that were included in the Mountain West’s schedule agreement with Oregon State and Washington State, the only other current Pac-12 members this season.

The fee starts at $10 million and increases by $500,000 for each additional school added to the Pac-12 from the Mountain West.

With four people on board, the total is $43 million.

The Pac-12 also has its sights set on Mountain West schools Utah State and UNLV. Adding them would cost another $24.5 million.

Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrusso

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