A temporary restraining order was granted to Marshall against Conference USA on Thursday after the school’s filing of a lawsuit Tuesday in an effort to accelerate its exit from the league .
The restraining order issued by Cabell County Circuit Judge Christopher Chiles prohibits C-USA from proceeding with arbitration.
Chiles made the order is good for 10 days, but it could be extended. He set the next hearing for March 16.
Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Mississippi have made it known they plan to leave Conference USA for the Sun Belt on June 30 of this year. C-USA, however, recently released its football schedules for the 2022 season, and included each of the three schools on the slate.
Following the issuing of the restraining order, C-USA issued a statement that read: “While Conference USA respects the court’s decision to temporarily grant the recent motion filed by Marshall University, the Conference USA Board of Directors stand firm in their belief that all Conference USA institutions, including Marshall, are expected to honor their contractual obligations and adhere to the agreed upon bylaws and covenants. Conference USA is full prepared to move forward with the remainder of the legal process.”
Chiles described issuing the temporary restraining order as being “in the public interest.”
C-USA bylaws state that members must give the conference at least 14 months notice before leaving the league, though Marshall said in its lawsuit it should not be subject to such bylaws as they were not in writing when the Thundering Herd joined the league in October 2003.
Marshall was formally accepted into the Sun Belt on November 1 of last year.