Mountain West’s Motion to Dismiss Denied in Pac-12 Antitrust Case

By Emma Fernald, Tulane Sports Law On September 30, 2025, Judge Susan Van Kuelen denied the Mountain West’s motion to dismiss an antitrust lawsuit brought by the Pac-12.  The court held that the Pac-12’s complaint adequately stated claims challenging the legality of the Mountain West’s “poaching-fee” clause and therefore survived dismissal. The Pac-12 entered a scheduling partnership with the Mountain West Conference (MWC) for the 2024 football season after losing ten of its