The Pac-12 Conference is being rebuilt with a focus on football, but it will also be a strong basketball league after adding one of the top basketball teams on the West Coast.
Gonzaga will join the new Pac-12, as both the conference and the school announced on Tuesday. This ends years of talks with other conferences as Gonzaga sought to take advantage of its basketball success and well-known reputation.
“I think what we’re able to bring to this conference is an enhancement to a basketball opportunity for them, but also what we got in return is a commitment that this conference really cares about basketball,” said Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford.
“That it’s an opportunity for us to have an impact on them and be an important partner in who they are and what they do.” On the same day, the Mountain West quickly added UTEP to secure its future.
Gonzaga will leave the West Coast Conference, where it has been for over 40 years and has been very successful for most of the last 25 years. The Zags will join a conference that is being rebuilt around football but should also be strong in basketball.
With Gonzaga joining, the Pac-12 will have eight members, including returning schools Washington State and Oregon State, along with new additions Boise State, San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, and Colorado State from the Mountain West.
Gonzaga will start competing in all sports in the Pac-12 on July 1, 2026, and will be the only private college in the conference at that time.
“Today represents an exciting milestone for the Pac-12 as we welcome another outstanding institution with a rich history of success into our league,” said Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould.
Adding Gonzaga still leaves the Pac-12 looking for another football-playing member for College Football Playoff eligibility since Gonzaga does not have a football program.
“I think Gonzaga is truly viewed as an equal partner in the work of governing the Pac-12 moving forward and that’s important to us, because we do want to play a role in helping to realize the vision and to shape the direction of the conference,” said Gonzaga President Thayne McCulloh.
