The Mountain West Conference is seeking mediation in the case the Pac-12 filed against it in an attempt to avoid paying $55 million in “poaching” fees for bringing five Mountain West teams into its own league.

The Mountain West and Pac-12, along with Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State, have agreed to enter mediation in hopes of settling ongoing lawsuits related to school exit fees and a poaching penalty included in a football scheduling agreement.

Mountain West and three schools moving from one to the other are in a legal standoff that has massive financial stakes for the futures of the conferences.

According to a report from Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, the Pac-12, Mountain West and Boise State, Colorado State and Utah State have all agreed to begin mediation over two ongoing lawsuits surrounding exit fees and poaching penalties the MWC believes it is owed.

The Mountain West is exploring mediation to resolve ongoing lawsuits with the Pac-12 and three departing schools over poaching penalties and exit fees, accordin

The ongoing legal saga between the new-look Pac-12 and the Mountain West may meet its end sooner rather than later. Both conferences have reportedly agreed to enter mediation related to the numerous lawsuits filed over a poaching clause included in a scheduling agreement made between the two conferences last season.

The neighboring conferences are in the market for media contracts that would start in the summer of 2026. What can they expect based on TV viewership?