West Virginia University has settled a lawsuit with the Big East Conference, clearing the way for the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July.
The terms of the deal were confidential, but it's believed to be around $20 million.
WVU Athletic Director Oliver Luck said Tuesday no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement. Luck said the funding will come only from private sources and money that athletics raised independently.
West Virginia had filed a lawsuit accusing the Big East of violating its fiduciary responsibilities by not staying active during conference realignment. The Big East filed its own lawsuit to compel West Virginia to abide by conference bylaws and not leave for 27 months.
In addition to WVU, TCU is also joining the Big 12. The Horned Frongs will join this fall.
Boise State, San Diego State, UCF, SMU, Houston and Memphis are scheduled to join the Big East in 2013. Navy will join in 2015.
Missouri and Texas A&M are leaving the Big 12 to join the SEC a year after Nebraska joined the Big Ten and Colorado left for the Pac 12.
The urgency of the lawsuits and the eventual settlement was driven by football, but the conference realignment affects other West Virginia sports. The Mountaineers must find a home for their men's soccer team because the Big 12 doesn't sponsor the sport.
Teams in rifle, wrestling and women's gymnastics at West Virginia compete in other conferences besides the Big East.
*Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
