According to Action Network’s Brett McMurphy, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are leaving the West Coast Conference to join the Pac-12 in 2026.
It’s an interesting move for many reasons, but perhaps the most intriguing part is that the Zags don’t currently have a football team, but they’ll still receive a full share of the conference revenue.
“Gonzaga leaving West Coast Conference to join Pac-12, source told @ActionNetworkHQ,” McMurphy said on Twitter. “Pac-12 still needs minimum of two football members by 2026, but Gonzaga, even w/out a football team, will receive a full conference revenue share in Pac-12, source said.”
This news coincides with reports that the Pac-12 has extended invitations to Tulane, USF, and Memphis but are expected to be denied with the programs being expected to stick with the AAC amid this wave of conference realignment.
Around this time last year, there were reports that the Big 12 was “seriously considering” adding Gonzaga to its conference membership, as the Bulldogs’ basketball’ hoops program would even further bolster the league’s case for the top basketball conference in America.
However, that never truly came to fruition and now it appears the Pac-12 will try and salvage what it can by adding one of the top available basketball programs in the country to its membership — even if it lacks a football program.
UPDATE: Conflicting Reports on Gonzaga’s Exit from WCC
While Brett McMurphy is reporting the Zags are heading to the Pac-12, college basketball insider Jon Rothstein seems to believe those reports might be a bit premature.
According to Rothstein, there is currently no deal in place for Gonzaga to leave the WCC.
This is a developing story, and information will be updated as it is released.
