Mountain West, Pac-12 settle conference realignment lawsuits

The Mountain West and Pac-12 conferences have come to a settlement on litigation tied to the conference realignment, the leagues announced Tuesday.

The settlement includes the Mountain West, Pac-12 and universities that left the MW for the Pac-12. The litigation was in relation to exit and poaching fees tied to the former MW schools relocating to the Pac-12.

“The Mountain West Conference, the Pac-12 Conference, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Utah State University, and The Board of Trustees of the California State University for the benefit of San Diego State University and California State University, Fresno have reached final agreements to settle all pending litigation among the parties,” a Mountain West said in a statement. “With these matters concluded, the conferences and institutions can move forward with certainty and focus on serving their student-athletes, campuses, fans, and communities.”

The terms of the settlement agreement were not immediately available.

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State left the Mountain West for the Pac-12 effective July 1. That left the MW with six returning members in UNLV, UNR, Air Force, New Mexico, San Jose State and Wyoming.

The total fees that were to be paid to the MW were $155 million, which included around $100 million in exit fees to be paid by the five universities exiting the conference for the Pac-12. There were also $55 million in poaching fees the Pac-12 was to pay the MW, tied to a scheduling agreement the two sides signed to help the Pac-12 fill in dates when all but Oregon State and Washington state left the conference in 2024.

The Pac-12 and exiting MW schools Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State then sued the Mountain West challenging the legality of those fees.

The first $61 million of the fee allocation was set to be dispersed on or before July 1, to the six full league universities that stayed with the conference and signed new multiyear deals to remain with the conference.

UNLV signed a six-year deal to stay with the MW through 2032 and was initially set to receive a total of $35.9 million, with $14.9 million of that was originally set to be paid on or before July 1, when the new conference year began. A records request submitted by the Review-Journal revealed that a payment has yet to be made.

“After a thorough search and review, UNLV has determined there are no records responsive to your request at this time,” a July 24 response from the school read.

UNLV was scheduled to receive an additional $21 million at a later date.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.