The western frontier of college sports has become a little less wild.
On Tuesday, the Pac-12 Conference and Mountain West Conference announced they have reached a settlement in their litigation, ending a nearly two-year battle over the so-called “poaching penalties” the Mountain West sought to impose after five of its members left for the rebuilt Pac-12. The resolution also extends to Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State, which had filed a separate lawsuit against the Mountain West in federal district court in Denver over nine-figure withdrawal fees their now-former league had sought to impose.
“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 two leagues and three schools said in a joint statement.
Financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The agreement has been expected since mid-May, when the leagues had notified U.S. District Court Judge Susan van Keulen that they had reached a settlement in principle.
The litigation has already proved expensive. According to its most recently tax returns, the Mountain West paid law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which has represented the league in the matter, $6.3 million in FY25.
