Over the summer the headline of college athletics was the apparent demise of the PAC-12. With all but two schools bolting for the ACC, Big 10 and Big 12 it seemed that the West Coast primer athletic conference was to be a thing of the past. Yet, in the past 10 days, the conference has revitalized itself thanks to multiple programs joining them via the Mountain West. Now, it has been reported that one of the top college basketball brands in the nation has also made the jump. Gonzaga will be leaving the West Coast Conference for the reformed PAC-12 at the start of the 2026 season. After years of criticism for their domination of the WCC, Mark Few and the Zags will be bringing one of the biggest brands in college sports to a conference in desperate need of reinforcements.
Gonzaga Set to Join the PAC-12 in July of 2026
What Does This Mean for Gonzaga
Obviously, a new conference means new opponents and a new schedule. Yet, the most important information regarding this news has been the reports on revenue distribution. As stated by Brett McMurphy of Action Network HQ, Gonzaga is in line to receive full revenue distribution despite not bringing a football program to the table. While the details of where the money will be going have yet to come to light, this would be a massive haul for the Zags. Reports have speculated that Gonzaga basketball generates upwards of $15-$20 million dollars on a yearly basis.
Gonzaga leaving West Coast Conference to join Pac-12, source told @ActionNetworkHQ. 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
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) September 23, 2024
It is no secret that football is the leader in generating money for any college athletic department. Being able to add those types of resources to their already impressive revenue generation could catapult Gonzaga into the highest tier of programs in terms of available resources. As for the conference itself, this provides an immediate credibility boost to their on-court endeavors. In fact, it can be argued that Gonzaga men’s basketball would become the top program regardless of sport in the entire conference.
Work to Be Done
The biggest question revolving around the return of the PAC-12 will be the lack of any media deal. All the top conferences in the country have lucrative deals with some of the top sports media outlets in the country. The SEC for example has partnered with ESPN for a whopping three billion dollars. The Big 10 has joined forces with Fox, CBS, and NBC to secure a deal that could see the conference’s 16 programs earn $80 million to $100 million per year. While the PAC-12 will not be able to earn deals of this magnitude, money will always follow the best brands. Gonzaga basketball is an unquestioned powerhouse brand and will undoubtedly make the conference more attractive for potential suitors.
The Last Word
For years Gonzaga has lived within the limitations of a smaller conference. They have risen through the ranks to become a national powerhouse that has defied the odds. Now, the opportunity to join the ranks of the PAC-12 will offer them access to a spotlight and resources the WCC simply couldn’t match. Unfortunately, football remains at the heart of all these decisions. The PAC-12 still needs to add at least one football program to reach the NCAA-required eight members so they will be able to participate in NCAA championships and the College Football Playoffs. Regardless, Gonzaga has finally made the jump many have sought after years of speculation surrounding the Big East, Big 12, and Mountain West.
