OVC suing Eastern Kentucky for $1 million in unpaid exit fees

EKU’s transition to the ASUN might end up as an expensive headache.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) filed a lawsuit against both Eastern Kentucky University and Jacksonville State University over unpaid exit fees. EKU and JSU announced back on January 26 and February 16, respectively, that the programs would be leaving the OVC, eventually joining the Atlantic Sun Conference (ASUN) on July 1. According to a report by the Associated Press, the OVC is suing the schools due to $1 million in unpaid exit fees for leaving the conference.

The lawsuit was filed in Franklin County, Kentucky and Calhoun County, Alabama.

OVC files suit against EKU, JSU to enforce exit fees@OVCSports @EKUSports pic.twitter.com/VI9PqgswIj

— Register Sports (@RichmondRsports) August 3, 2021

“The contract for all our members regarding exit fees is clear,” OVC Commissioner Beth DeBauche said in the press release. “Eastern Kentucky University and Jacksonville State University agreed with the exit fees as part of the contract, and they voted in favor of those fees on multiple occasions. We expect them to honor their agreed-upon OVC commitments.”

In order to avoid the previously agreed upon exit fees, EKU and JSU would have needed to inform the OVC of its intention to leave the conference with at least a two years notice. Both programs did so with roughly six months of notice, and now EKU and JSU are refusing to pay the exit fees, per the OVC’s press release. According to the Associated Press, the OVC reminded both schools of the exit fee months in advance, but the requests were ultimately ignored.

EKU was one of the founding members of the OVC, which dates back to 1948. JSU joined in 2003.

Who says conference drama can only happen with the Power 5?