The Washington Supreme Court has granted an emergency stay in the ongoing dispute over the Pac-12 Board of Directors. The stay, requested by the University of Washington, comes as a relief to the 10 departing Pac-12 schools, as it puts on hold a previous injunction that had given sole control of the conference to Oregon State and Washington State.

The temporary restraining order, which was issued in September and prevents the Pac-12 Board of Directors from taking any action without unanimous consent, will remain in place. This means that all 12 current members will continue to have an equal voice in decision-making until the case is fully reviewed, which is expected to take place by December 12th.

In a joint statement, the 10 departing schools expressed their satisfaction with the decision, stating, "We are pleased that the Washington Supreme Court has put on hold the preliminary injunction that would have given OSU and WSU sole control of the Pac-12 Conference. This decision effectively ensures that all 12 current members will have an equal voice in determining how the revenue our schools earned this year is distributed and utilized while the Court considers our arguments."

The revenue earned by the Pac-12 schools holds significant importance, as it funds various aspects of their athletics programs, including mental and physical health services, academic support, and other student-athlete support programs. The sudden shift in control would have meant that Oregon State and Washington State could unilaterally govern the distribution and utilization of funds, potentially impacting the other schools.

The preliminary injunction, issued by the Whitman County Superior Court in November, effectively gave Oregon State and Washington State complete control over the Pac-12. With a potential revenue of around $500 million, the two schools had the power to set the league's agenda and use existing assets to secure the league's future as they saw fit.

Additionally, reports have surfaced suggesting that Oregon State and Washington State are exploring a scheduling agreement with the Mountain West Conference for the 2024 season. Under this potential agreement, MWC teams would play seven league games along with either Oregon State or Washington State, adding six games to the schedules of both schools. In exchange, the Pac-2 schools would pay the MWC approximately $14 million.

The outcome of the stay granted by the Washington Supreme Court has brought a sense of stability to the Pac-12 conference, ensuring that all 12 current members will have an equal say in the decisions that shape the future of the league. With the case set to be fully reviewed in the coming weeks, the fate of the Pac-12 hangs in the balance, and all eyes will be on the court's final ruling.