According to multiple reports from media outlets, the Pac-12 and Mountain West have agreed in principle to a settlement regarding a lawsuit roughly $150 million in exit and penalty fees.
The Mountain West has sought that money from the Pac-12 and its member schools over the departure of five schools from its conference to the rebuilt Conference of Champions — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State.
Both Jon Wilner, a west-coast-based columnist and college sports reporter, and Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported Monday afternoon that a settlement has been agreed to, though it has yet to be finalized, as it needs to be formally brought before the court.
The basis for the $150 million conflict arises from the combination of exit fees the Mountain West sought from the five departing schools, plus additional fees from the Pac-12 that stem from a scheduling agreement the two leagues signed in December 2023.
In response, the Pac-12 filed a lawsuit against the Mountain West in September 2024, citing antitrust laws. Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State later filed their own collective lawsuit against the Mountain West, seeking relief from paying the exit fees.
According to Wilner, the settlement includes a resolution to both lawsuits. A hearing is scheduled for June 9.
An initial two-month mediation between the two sides took place in 2025, spanning May to July, but yielded nothing. But on Monday, the two sides met and came to an agreement during a virtual meeting.
After the initial publishing of this article, the Pac-12 and Mountain West released a joint statement regarding the settlement.
“The Pac-12 Conference, the Mountain West Conference, and Boise State University, Utah State University, the Board of Governors of the Colorado State University System for the benefit of Colorado 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 an agreement in principle to resolve the pending lawsuits. The parties have agreed to stay the lawsuits in California and Colorado while they work to negotiate and finalize the settlement.”
