Pac-12, Mountain West headed back to court after mediation fails over millions in 'poaching' fees
The conferences failed to reach an agreement by Tuesday's deadline in mediation that began in May. The Pac-12 has requested a hearing on the pending motion to dismiss on Sept. 9.
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'The Pac-12 remains committed to moving forward with legal action in response to the Mountain West's attempt to impose so-called 'poaching penalties,' provisions we believe are unlawful and intended to obstruct our ability to act in the best interests of our student-athletes and member institutions," the Pac-12 said in a statement.
The Pac-12 and some of the schools it is adding filed lawsuits last year, claiming the poaching clause it agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams for last season was invalid.
The clause called for payments to the Mountain West of $10 million for the first team that left, with the amount growing by $500,000 for every additional team. That was on top of the $17 million-plus exit fees schools were responsible for as part of a different agreement.
'The Mountain West provided the Pac-12 institutions with a lifeline, offering a full football schedule for the 2024 season,' the Mountain West said in a statement. 'The Pac-12 willingly signed the scheduling agreement with full knowledge of the contractual provisions and is attempting to avoid its legal obligations. The Mountain West will aggressively protect the interests of our member institutions and is fully prepared to hold the Pac-12 accountable.'
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Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State are all set to join the Pac-12 starting in 2026. The conference added Texas State last month to reach the eight-team minimum to be eligible for an automatic bid for its conference champion in the College Football Playoff.
Oregon State and Washington State are the only remaining members following an exodus last year that threatened the conference's future. The two schools reached a scheduling agreement with the two schools so they could piece together a football schedule last season.
The Mountain West has added UTEP, Hawaii and Northern Illinois for football starting in 2026.
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John Marshall, The Associated Press
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Krista Bo 00:00:00 Hey there, welcome, welcome. Let's jump right into the good stuff. We highlight two epic journeys that made history. One around the globe in search of happiness and the other down a newly restored river to come back home. And across the pond. Announcer 00:00:18 All up! Krista Bo 00:00:18 'A centuries-old tradition where these birds get the royal treatment. Yuri Williams 00:00:22 I'm willing to travel anywhere by plane, boat, whatever I need to do to make an impact on somebody's life. Krista Bo 00:00:29 'He's a real-life superhero, sparking joy across the country in costume and in memory of someone he loved. From CNN, I'm Krista Bo, and this is 5 Good Things. Krista Bo 00:00:43 The newest member of the Philadelphia Phillies doesn't swing a bat or throw a pitch. This puppy is carrying on a legacy while training to save a life. 'Jess Wisnieski-Hagen 00:00:52 Tugger is just a few months old. He is a yellow lab and he is working hard to become a service dog. 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Yuri Williams 00:09:54 'I came up with the idea of dressing up as super heroes, Storm Trooper, Spider-Man, Deadpool. I go get dressed and then that's when the magic begins. Krista Bo 00:10:05 'By day, 48-year-old Yuri Williams is a dad and juvenile corrections officer. But in his spare time, he runs a nonprofit called, A Future Superhero and Friends. Which is why he's getting a CNN Heroes salute. Yuri Williams 00:10:18 I'm trying to uplift as many human beings and animals as possible. I visit the houseless community, veterans, the elderly, children with special needs, disabilities. Krista Bo 00:10:28 Since 2017, Yuri has traveled across all 50 states at least five times to deliver items like backpacks, blankets, and food to people in need. He visits them in hospital rooms and homes, and he does it all in costume. To date, he says he's visited more than 25,000 people. 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