Pac-12 Adds Gonzaga as Men’s Basketball Conference Landscape Shifts Again

A changing conference map

The Pac-12 is returning with Gonzaga among its additions. Hawaii won the Big West before departing, while Utah State ended its Mountain West tenure after a strong finish.

Earlier realignment sent UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington to the Big Ten. Arizona, ASU, Utah and Colorado moved to the Big 12, while Stanford and Cal joined the ACC.

Pac-12 additions

The Pac-12’s listed additions are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State, all from the Mountain West. Gonzaga is arriving from the West Coast Conference, and Texas State is coming from the Sun Belt.

Gonzaga’s move is scheduled for the 2026-27 season. Mark Few’s program had captured 23 West Coast Conference regular-season titles before the change.

Other league moves

The Mountain West added Hawaii and UC Davis from the Big West, along with Texas El Paso from Conference USA. Its listed departures are Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State.

The Big West’s additions are Austin Peay, Central Arkansas, Eastern Kentucky, North Alabama and West Georgia from the ASUN, plus Little Rock from the Ohio Valley. The account also identifies Cal Baptist as preparing for its first Big West season.

Why membership matters

The conference shifts affect more than league schedules. Each conference champion earns an automatic place in the NCAA Tournament, making the membership changes important to teams pursuing a postseason berth. The account says five additional mid-major teams changed conferences in 2025, following the earlier moves by major programs.