Mountain West's $43 million "poaching penalty" triggers hard hitting response from Pac-12

The Pac-12 conference is working to rebuild after losing 10 of its teams due to conference realignment following the 2023 season. The Pac-12 has received commitments from Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State from the Mountain West Conference.

Utah State has also announced its intention to join the Pac-12. UNLV and Air Force are up in the air, as both schools have expressed interest in the Pac-12 but have since reestablished their commitment to the MWC.

Part of their recommitment could be credited to the reported $10 million "poaching fee" the MWC is enforcing for each school that will move to the Pac-12. This $43 million price tag is separate from the $17 million "exit fee" the MWC has also enforced on each school that will realign.

The Pac-12 has filed a lawsuit against the MWC over the $43 million price tag it requested the Pac-12 to pay for its first four members. The penalty is a reported $10 million base fine which will increase by $1 million for every school that moves to the MWC.

American Athletic Conference schools declining Pac-12 offers

Along with UNLV and Air Force reportedly rethinking their decision to join the Pac-12, several schools from the American Athletic Conference have declined offers to join the conference.

The Pac-12 offered spots to Memphis, Tulane and USF, all of whom turned it down due to new incentives proposed by American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Perenetti.

The Pac-12 has also sought out UTSA but like its AAC peers, the school declined despite previous reports indicating potential interest.

For now, the Pac-12 is at seven schools as Utah State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State are set to join existing members Oregon State and Washington State.

The realignment is expected to take place in July 2026, in time for the start of the college football season.

The Pac-12 needs just one more school to commit to its realignment to be recognized as an FBS conference but could continue to seek the final five teams to return to the conference's 12-team format.

The MWC will likely look to rebuild as well after losing four of its top schools.