$150 Million Showdown: Pac-12 and Mountain West Headed to Court
So, here’s the big story making waves in the world of college sports — the Mountain West and Pac-12 conferences are officially on a legal collision course. After months of mediation, the two conferences couldn't come to terms over more than $150 million in exit and poaching fees , and now, it’s going to court. A hearing is locked in for September 9 , and the stakes are massive — not just in dollars, but in the future structure of college athletics as a whole.
Let me break it down. The Mountain West Conference is demanding over $150 million in exit fees and penalties after five of its member schools — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State — announced they’re heading to the newly revamped Pac-12 starting in 2026 . Mountain West sees this as a blatant poaching operation and wants compensation for the abrupt exits.
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Pac-12, on the other hand, isn’t just backing down — they're fighting back legally. In fact, they've filed lawsuits challenging the legitimacy of those "poaching penalties." Their argument is simple: these provisions are, in their view, unlawful and designed to block schools from making the best decisions for their futures, especially when it comes to student-athletes and institutional growth.
And here’s where it gets even more layered — not only is the Pac-12 pushing back, but four of the departing schools have also filed separate lawsuits against the Mountain West , contesting the size and validity of the exit fees. So, we’ve got a full legal standoff from almost every angle. What was once a quiet behind-the-scenes negotiation is now a very public, very expensive tug-of-war.
Interestingly, amid all this turmoil, the Mountain West has announced a pause on further expansion . Commissioner Gloria Nevarez stated they want to get through this legal mess and finalize their media rights deal before bringing more schools into the fold. This includes recently confirmed changes like Grand Canyon University joining (minus football), Hawaii becoming a full member in 2026, and some unique arrangements with UC Davis and Northern Illinois.
At the heart of it, this fight isn’t just about money — it’s about power, control, and the shifting future of college sports. Conferences are scrambling to adapt, rebuild, and survive in an era where media rights, playoff berths, and institutional alignment mean everything. And with both sides digging in, it looks like it’ll be a courtroom — not a football field — where the next chapter of this realignment saga will play out.
This is one to watch closely. September 9 could shape the future of two major conferences, and by extension, the entire college football landscape.
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