Gonzaga to join Pac-12: Conference still needs one more football-playing member with Zags leaving WCC

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Gonzaga announced Tuesday it is leaving the WCC and will become a member of the new-look Pac-12 starting in 2026. The Zags, who have been one of the most successful men’s basketball programs in recent years, do not have a football program, but will give the Pac-12 eight members in basketball.

The Pac-12 sits at seven members in football with Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State announcing their exit from the Mountain West to join the Pac-12 last month. The conference needs one more school to join in football to reach the eight-member minimum to qualify as an official FBS conference.

“We are delighted to welcome Gonzaga into the Pac-12 as they embark with us on this incredible path ahead,” Pac-12 commissioner Teresa Gould said in a statement.

With Oregon State and Washington State remaining in the Pac-12 due to being left out of the first round of conference realignment that saw Cal and Stanford leave for the ACC; Oregon, UCLA, USC and Washington depart for the Big Ten and Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah exit for the Big 12, the door remained open for the Pac-12 to rebuild from the ground up.

From a college basketball perspective, the additions of some of the top programs from the Mountain West — considered the most exciting mid-major league in the sport last season — gives the Pac-12 a launching board to rebuild. The addition of Gonzaga is even more notable based on the success the program has had over the last two decades.

The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Tournament in every season the tournament was held since the 1998-99 campaign and has reached the second weekend of the tournament nine consecutive years. Gonzaga most recently reached the Final Four in 2021 before falling to Baylor in the national title game.

As for the other four members, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State all reached the NCAA Tournament this past season and the MWC has had recent success in the NCAA Tournament — highlighted by San Diego State reaching the Final Four in 2023.