Gonzaga is expected to join the Pac-12, a person briefed on the negotiations told The Athletic on Tuesday.
Gonzaga as a non-football school will keep the Pac-12 as seven full members, needing eight by 2026. But for the Pac-12, it’s an addition of one of the best basketball programs in the nation. The Zags reached the national championship game in 2017 and 2021 and have reached 24 consecutive NCAA men’s basketball tournaments.
The Pac-12, made up of Oregon State and Washington State, added Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State last month, which are set to join in 2026. After an attempt to add schools from the American Athletic Conference fell short, the Pac-12 then added Utah State.
Its attempt to add UNLV fell short as the six remaining full Mountain West members, along with football-only member Hawaii, opted to stay together and sign a binding agreement.
With Gonzaga, the Pac-12 is creating a formidable men’s basketball conference. Along with the Zags’ history of success, San Diego State played in the 2023 national championship game and has reached the NCAA Tournament 11 times since 2010, including the last four years. Utah State has reached four of the last five tournaments, and Boise State has reached the tournament for each of the last three years.
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