Pac-12 holdovers make major move to block defectors

The Pac-12 Conference is a shell of its former self, but the two remaining schools are fighting for control of what’s left.

The Athletic reported Wednesday that Oregon State and Washington State have filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to gain control of the Pac-12 Board.

The 10 other Pac-12 teams have already announced plans to join other conferences. USC and UCLA, the first two schools to depart, announcing in December 2022 they were moving to the Big Ten. Colorado announced plans in July to depart for the Big 12.

All three of those schools lost their board representation after announcing plans to exit the Pac-12, according to Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff .

Seven other Pac-12 teams have since announced plans to leave, but still have board representatives. Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger reported that “Oregon State & Washington State believe the out-going 10 Pac-12 schools will dissolve the league and re-distribute the millions in Pac-12 assets. … The 10 have no allegiance to Pac-12.”

The two schools issued a joint statement.

“Today Oregon State and Washington State asked the court to confirm the departing schools lost their Board seats following their notices of withdrawal from the conference,” the statement read (via The Athletic).

“The Pac-12 cannot continue to be paralyzed at such a critical time. We did not create or seek these circumstances, but OSU and WSU will continue to take whatever actions are necessary to protect our universities, ensure accountability and transparency, safeguard student-athletes and the Pac-12 Conference, while preserving our options moving forward. The future of the Pac-12 should be decided by the schools that stay, not those that leave.”

The Pac-12 and Kliavkoff were the original defendants in the case, but the University of Washington filed a motion in early October to represent itself and the other nine outgoing schools.

[TheAthletic.com]