DENVER — Colorado State University, Boise State University , and Utah State University filed a lawsuit on Aug. 7 against the Mountain West Conference and Commissioner Gloria Nevarez, alleging fraudulent conduct, that the conference owes the universities money, and seeking to void millions of dollars in exit penalties.

The universities, which announced plans to join the Pac-12 Conference in 2026, claim the Mountain West has violated its own bylaws and Colorado law while attempting to collect exit fees in the millions.

The plaintiffs argue the conference's exit penalty is an "unenforceable penalty" that bears no relationship to actual financial harm. Under current bylaws, departing members must pay three times the average annual conference distribution, or six times that amount for la

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