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Basketball powerhouse Gonzaga is moving to the Pac-12 for the 2026 season

Basketball powerhouse Gonzaga is moving to the Pac-12 for the 2026 season

The Pac-12 will admit Gonzaga as a member in all of the school's sports beginning in July 2026, the conference announced Tuesday.

Gonzaga brings a rich basketball tradition to the revamped Pac-12, as the Zags have reached the round of 16 of the men's NCAA Tournament nine straight times.

According to sources, the talks intensified in the last three days. Gonzaga brings strong media value to the league from a basketball perspective because it is one of the sport's top brands and most consistent winners. The Bulldogs have reached every NCAA men's tournament played since 1999, a streak of 25 consecutive years.

Gonzaga has one of the most respected men's basketball coaches in the country in Mark Few, who has been at the school since 2000 and including two Final Fours.

Gonzaga is the eighth member of the revamped Pac-12, but does not count as the league's eighth full-time member because there is no school football. The Pac-12 still needs to add another member to meet the conference's minimum thresholds.

Gonzaga will join San Diego State, Colorado State, Utah State, Fresno State, Boise State, Washington State and Oregon State in a strong regional basketball league.

The Pac-12 faces a decision between evaluating the current league — plus an unknown member — in the market or hunkering down and getting another member soon.

The Pac-12 has also held preliminary discussions with Grand Canyon and Saint Mary's, both of which competed in the NCAA men's basketball tournament last year. However, the conference is expected to continue to focus on adding another football playing school before turning its attention back to basketball.

Gonzaga has been a member of the WCC since the 1989-90 season and its departure is a major blow to this league.

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