The dramatic move comes against a Darwinian backdrop in which the Pac-12, decimated by the departure of the 10 universities, is attempting to rebuild with schools from the Mountain West.

The Pac-12 reportedly filed a legal complaint Tuesday, over millions of dollars in penalties that the Mountain West believes it is owed.

The Pac-12 argues that the tens of millions it owes the Mountain West in poaching fees amount to an antitrust violation.