Pac-12和Mountain West两大美国大学体育联盟周二宣布最终和解所有待决诉讼[1]。此前两个联盟因退出费和相关条款问题在加州引发法律纠纷[1]。
根据和解协议，Mountain West联盟的挖角条款规定，第一支离开该联盟的学校需支付1000万美元，之后每支球队增加50万美元，最高总计5500万美元[1]。具体的退出费范围从1900万美元至3800万美元不等[1]。科罗拉多州立大学、犹他州立大学、圣地亚哥州立大学、弗雷斯诺州立大学和博伊西州立大学定于今年秋季加入Pac-12[1]。
此次和解的达成背景包括：Pac-12在2024年失去10支学校后与Mountain West签署了赛程协议[1]，加州法官Claudia Wilken在11月驳回了Pac-12的驳回动议[1]。
The Pac-12 and Mountain West conferences finalized a comprehensive settlement on Tuesday, resolving all pending litigation stemming from disputes over recruitment practices and conference exit fees.[1] The legal conflict had centered on a "poaching" clause and the financial obligations imposed on schools departing the Mountain West, with the case filed in California.[1]
Under the contested recruitment provision, departing schools faced escalating fees: the first school to leave owed $10 million, with each subsequent school required to pay an additional $500,000, reaching a maximum total of $55 million.[1] The exit fee structure separately ranged from $19 million to $38 million depending on the institution.[1] The settlement involved multiple schools transitioning to the Pac-12, including Colorado State University, Utah State University, San Diego State University, Fresno State University, and Boise State University, all scheduled to join the conference this fall.[1] The Pac-12's decision to pursue these transfers came after the conference lost ten schools during 2024, prompting the league to subsequently establish scheduling agreements with the Mountain West.[1]