The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences announced the completion of settlement negotiations resolving all outstanding legal disputes between the two conferences and associated institutions. The agreement concluded proceedings that had involved Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, and Fresno State, along with the California State University Board of Trustees. Both conferences stated that the resolution would allow them to proceed with confidence in supporting their student-athletes, institutions, and communities.
The settlement formalized an agreement in principle that had been announced in May. The disputes stemmed from a poaching clause included in a scheduling agreement negotiated between the conferences. Under the original terms, the Mountain West would have received $10 million from the Pac-12 for the first departing school, with payments escalating by $500,000 for each additional team, potentially reaching $55 million total. The scheduling arrangement had been implemented in 2024 to enable Oregon State and Washington State to maintain football competition after 10 schools departed the Pac-12.
The Pac-12 and several schools joining the conference had challenged the validity of the poaching clause through a California lawsuit filed in 2024. A separate action was initiated by Colorado State, Utah State, and Boise State seeking to avoid Mountain West exit fees ranging from $19 million to $38 million. A judicial motion to dismiss the primary case was denied by Judge Claudia Wilken in November, following unsuccessful mediation efforts.
Multiple institutions are transitioning between conferences this fall. Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State, and Boise State are departing the Mountain West for the Pac-12, while Gonzaga is joining the Pac-12 as a non-football member from the West Coast Conference. Texas State had previously joined the Pac-12 to help the conference reach the eight-team threshold required for an automatic College Football Playoff bid. The Mountain West is adding UTEP, Hawaii, and Northern Illinois for football competition beginning this fall.
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