SharkTanked

Could be. I am stronger on the money reason. I think they are looking for the cheapest way to take care of the situation while the financials are still so unknown (though with the ruling, things are clearer than before). Also might explain their dalliance with the Sun Belt for a scheduling agreement. I am not sure it has to do with MWC negotiations, but it could.

I am kinda surprised the MWC insisted on that penalty, tbh. They are more closely aligned (maybe even unified?) than I previously gave them credit for. I also think Gloria had a lot to do with it. It is obvious she knows they have the PAC 2 over a barrel and has convinced the MWC leadership of that. I wouldn't go up against her in a game of chicken.

The cow is "lease to own."

Still seems weird. Ostensibly, it seems WSU and OSU would be paying at least a portion of any MWC team's exit fee in the form of PAC assets. I guess it ensures the pound of flesh is delivered though.

Weird. Seems that's already there in the form of exit fees.

I don't know that it would even be 6 MWC schools. They would probably try to go after AAC/Sun Belt as well. Still, I don't think they can do it without at least 3 or 4 MWC schools, and I think even that price tag is too high, even with the reduced fee with an additional yrs notice. Plus they create a Frankenmonster that isn't really appealing to any of the invitees, with likely not enough revenue increase to really justify it. But I do think that is what they are going to try to do, up until they realize it isn't gonna work.

Yeah it seems to me that this ruling means that WSU/OSU will not have a huge war chest to pay exit fees. The question then becomes, are some MWC shools willing to absorb some of that if the CFP and PAC12 Tourney Credit $$ is there for them? Are they able to claw-back some of the share from the 10 to cover outstanding liabilities? Does a BOR in the west really generate any significant increase in TV revenue to justify leaving the MWC? I think it is a tough sell to current MWC teams to join the PAC-2. Best case scenario is still the reverse merger.

Yes because they are going as a block. Most likely. Of course they won't be doing so without firm media numbers.

Not sure on the details, so I don't know if there are statutory limits on the damages requested or if the court can exceed what is being asked. Also, I assume they have an idea how much it should cost in billable hours, but that is still an unknown as well. You just can't really have clarity on the cost of those until after they are resolved. I don't know enough about lawyering or the cases to know if they have an accurate picture or the costs or are looking at a swag.

But that's the thing. Until you get resolution on those suits, you won't know what the liabilities really are. How would anyone know how much they cost?