Washington State, Oregon State remain in control of Pac-12 as Washington Supreme Court denies review request

The Washington Supreme Court has denied a motion for discretionary review by the 10 departing Pac-12 members in a decision announced Friday. With the ruling, the courts once again grant Oregon State and Washington State control of the Pac-12 and all of its assets, reinstating a decision made in lower court. 

The two sides previously argued their cases in Whitman County (Washington) Court, leading to a judge ruling that by announcing intent to leave the conference, the 10 schools had ceded voting rights. USC and UCLA were previously dismissed as voting members of the Pac-12 board after announcing plans to join the Big Ten. Whitman County is the home of Washington State University. 

After the county court decision, the 10 departing members, led by the University of Washington, filed in Washington Supreme Court for further review. The Supreme Court initially issued an emergency stay, reverting to a temporary restraining order requiring all 12 members of the board to act unanimously. After reviewing the full motion to overturn the Whitman County decision, the Supreme Court declined to move on with the case. 

Oregon State and Washington State are now considered the only two voting members of the Pac-12 and have sole power to set the agenda and make decisions for the future of the conference. It also prevents the remaining 10 schools from voting to sell off any assets or contracts before the conference drops from 12 to two members. 

“We are pleased with the Washington Supreme Court’s decision today,” said Washington State president Kirk Schultz and Oregon State president Jayathi Murthy in a joint statement. “We look forward to continuing our work of charting a path forward for the conference that is in the best interest of student-athletes and our wider university communities.”

While OSU and WSU have controlling interest in the Pac-12, the pairing is still required to act in the fiduciary interest of the entire group. The schools do not have the ability to withhold money that is rightfully owed to the departing 10 members. 

Oregon State and Washington State opted to withhold 15% of the conference revenue normally distributed in December, according to the San Jose Mercury News. The decision incensed the departing members and was expected to be used as proof that Oregon State and Washington State should not have controlling interest of the conference. 

“A decision to…