MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University announced Tuesday it settled a lawsuit with the Big East for an unspecified amount, clearing the way for the conference power Mountaineers to join the Big 12 in July in time for the fall football season.

Athletic director Oliver Luck said the terms of the deal were confidential and WVU wouldn’t release details. But Luck said no state, taxpayer, tuition or other academic dollars will be used in the settlement.

A person familiar with the agreement said the settlement totaled $20 million but did not know how much money would come from the university and how much the Big 12 may contribute.

A spokesman for the Big 12 didn’t immediately comment, but the conference released its football schedule. West Virginia makes its Big 12 debut Sept. 29 at home against Baylor.

WVU sued the Big East in Monongalia County Circuit Court in Morgantown in November, challenging its bylaws in a bid to join the Big12 in time for the 2012 season.

The Big East countersued in Rhode Island four days later, arguing that WVU had breached its contract with the conference and should remain in the Big East for another two years as required in the bylaws. In late December, the judge there denied WVU’s motion to dismiss.

Big East commissioner John Marinatto said the board of directors agreed to the deal because WVU was willing to drop its lawsuit and pay an exit fee “well in excess of that required by the bylaws,” he said.

The Big East still has work to do to figure out how next season will play out. Pittsburgh and Syracuse announced in September they are leaving for the ACC, but have said they will not challenge the Big East’s notification rules.

Marinatto said he “would not be open to a conversation” with either school about departing this year. “But given the strength and speed of our expansion efforts, I think our board might be open to a discussion about 2013.”