Pac-12 and Mountain West settle poaching lawsuit
The Pac-12 Conference and the Mountain West Conference announced a settlement that ends their legal dispute over the former’s recruitment of Mountain West member schools. The agreement’s terms were not disclosed. The lawsuit originated after the Pac-12 said it would add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State for the 2026‑27 academic year, with the Mountain West reportedly seeking up to $55 million in penalties.
The settlement comes as the Pac-12 begins a new era, adding Texas State and Gonzaga (for all sports except football) and considering Saint Mary’s as a potential tenth member. The Mountain West also expanded, granting full membership to UTEP, adding North Dakota State and Northern Illinois as football‑only affiliates, and converting Hawaii to a full member. Both leagues will field ten teams in the 2026 football season.
Entities: Boise State University · Gonzaga University · Mountain West Conference · Pac-12 Conference · Texas State University
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The settlement terms were not disclosed. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Both conferences will have ten teams for the 2026 football season. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Pac-12 added Gonzaga for all sports except football. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Mountain West sued after the Pac-12 announced it would add Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State beginning in the 2026‑27 academic year. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Mountain West reportedly sought up to $55 million in penalties for the poaching. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Pac-12 Conference and the Mountain West Conference reached a settlement in their legal dispute over member poaching. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Pac-12 added Texas State as a new member for the upcoming season. (All articles)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Mountain West added UTEP as a full member, North Dakota State and Northern Illinois as football‑only affiliates, and converted Hawaii to a full member. (All articles)