Three Mountain West faculties leaving for the Pac-12 have filed an up to date lawsuit accusing the convention of improperly withholding tens of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} and deceptive them a few covert plan to fast-track the addition of Grand Canyon College. Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State filed the 37-page grievance Thursday in Colorado federal courtroom, in keeping with paperwork obtained by The Athletic.
The lawsuit additionally names Mountain West commissioner Gloria Nevarez as a defendant. The colleges declare the convention and Nevarez “deliberately and fraudulently” disadvantaged them of their membership rights, leading to vital monetary hurt and negatively impacting student-athletes’ alternatives throughout their last season within the Mountain West.
On the coronary heart of the dispute is the withholding of hundreds of thousands in funds, together with Boise State’s Faculty Soccer Playoff income from its 2024 look within the expanded 12-team subject. The grievance additionally highlights unpaid journey reimbursements and withheld NCAA distributions for monetary assist, tutorial help and athlete welfare applications.
Though Fresno State — one other college leaving the Mountain West — has expressed concern over the withheld NCAA funds, it isn’t included within the lawsuit.
The colleges argue the Mountain West’s exit charges — at the least $19 million per establishment — are invalid and shouldn’t be enforced. Complicating issues, the Mountain West is concurrently pursuing roughly $55 million in “poaching charges” from the Pac-12 for including these faculties plus Fresno State and San Diego State. These claims are additionally contested in a separate ongoing authorized battle.
The Mountain West responded that the departing faculties have been concerned in adopting the exit payment bylaws and had beforehand sought to implement them towards San Diego State when it tried to go away two years in the past. In response to The Athletic, the convention referred to as it “inconsistent and unjust” for the colleges to now refuse to honor the charges and vowed to vigorously defend its place.
One other key situation is the timing of Grand Canyon’s entry into the convention. Initially introduced to hitch in July 2026 — coinciding with the departing faculties’ begin within the Pac-12 — the Mountain West reportedly accelerated Grand Canyon’s admission to 2025 with out informing the departing faculties.
In response to the grievance, Nevarez repeatedly denied any change regardless of rumors, just for the convention to announce Grand Canyon’s early entry shortly after Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State gave their resignation notices, which ended their voting rights.
The rushed addition may disrupt schedules, journey logistics and convention event seedings, and probably affect NCAA Event bids. The colleges declare they’ve but to see Grand Canyon’s membership settlement or perceive how its inclusion will have an effect on Mountain West income sharing, alleging the transfer will value them hundreds of thousands.
Nevarez defended the convention’s actions to The Athletic in July, noting that faculties forfeited voting rights upon resigning, saying, “It is Convention 101.”
This newest lawsuit provides complexity to the broader West Coast realignment drama, with the Pac-12’s near-collapse final yr and ongoing authorized battles between the 2 conferences over scheduling agreements and membership charges. A courtroom listening to is predicted subsequent month.
