WAC Files Suit Against Utah Valley University Over Exit Fees

OREM, Utah – The Utah Valley Wolverines and Western Athletic Conference are potentially headed to court after the WAC filed suit against the school for unpaid exit fees.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel first reported the news.

The suit, filed on February 2 in the Tarrant County, Texas, district court, alleges that Utah Valley University has failed to pay a $1 million exit fee for leaving the conference.

Utah Valley is scheduled to exit the WAC for the Big West as of July 1, 2026.

Conference Realignment: Utah Valley University To Join Big West

Whoah! “As a result UVU is not permitted to participate in conference championship events or NCAA championship events”
UVU not eligible for March Madness.#GoUVU @KSLSports https://t.co/e2H4J2uFcB

— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) February 3, 2026

“UVU’s President stated in writing that UVU ‘will not pay an exit fee’ and refused to comply with the WAC’s bylaws for exiting members,” the suit reads.

As a result of their failure to pay, the WAC has determined that Utah Valley is currently ‘a member institution not in good standing’.

The Wolverines will not be allowed to participate in conference championship events, NCAA championship events, and/or appear on Conference-sponsored television, radio, or other media packages.

The UVU men’s basketball team is currently in a three-way tie with California Baptist and UT Arlington for the conference lead. Entering the season, the Wolverines were considered one of the most likely teams to emerge from the WAC in the program’s final season in the conference.

KSL Sports reached out to Utah Valley University for comment. The story will be updated if the University responds. 

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24. 

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