COLLEGE ATHLETICS
Pac-12, Mountain West settle poaching and exit fee dispute
The two conferences announced final agreements Tuesday, ending all pending litigation over schools departing the Mountain West, including UNM's statement on the resolution.
The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences have finalized a settlement over 鈥減oaching鈥� and exit fees.
The two conferences announced on Tuesday that all sides have reached final agreements to settle all pending litigation. The statement included Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and The Board of Trustees of the California State University on behalf of San Diego State and Fresno State.
鈥淲ith these matters concluded, the conferences and institutions can move forward with certainty and focus on serving their student-athletes, campuses, fans, and communities,鈥� the statement said.
The conferences announced an agreement in principle in May.
Financial terms have not been released.
The University of New Mexico, one of the schools remaining in the newlook Mountain West, released the following joint statement from new UNM President Steve Goldstein and Athletic Director Ryan Berryman.
鈥淭he University of New Mexico was informed by the Mountain West that the litigation related to the departing member schools has been resolved. The dramatic changes occurring in college athletics across the country have been disruptive, but the Lobos have continued to thrive. We are excited to support our student-athletes and to compete for championships in the Mountain West season ahead.鈥�
Official statement from UNM President Dr. Steve Goldstein and VP/Director of Athletics Ryan Berryman.
— New Mexico Lobos (@UNMLOBOS)
The Pac-12 and some of the new schools joining the conference filed a lawsuit in California in 2024, claiming the poaching clause the league agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams was invalid. The clause called for payments to the Mountain West of $10 million for the first team that left, with the amount increasing by $500,000 for every additional team 鈥� to a total of $55 million.
The scheduling agreement with the Mountain West allowed Oregon State and Washington State to piece together football schedules after 10 schools left the Pac-12 in 2024, leaving the conference鈥檚 future in doubt.
The Pac-12 had its motion to dismiss denied by Judge Claudia Wilken in November after the sides failed to reach an agreement in mediation last summer.
Colorado State and Utah State filed a separate lawsuit 鈥� later joined by Boise State 鈥� against the Mountain West seeking to avoid exit fees ranging from $19 million to $38 million.
Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State are set to leave the Mountain West and join the Pac-12 this fall. The conference added Texas State last year to reach the eight-team minimum to be eligible for an automatic bid for its champion in the College Football Playoff.
Gonzaga also is leaving the West Coast Conference to join the Pac-12 as a non-football member this fall.
The Mountain West has added UTEP, Hawaii and Northern Illinois for football starting this fall.
