SeaTown Sports Brew: Why Gonzaga Doesn't Need the Pac-12
Weekly Seattle Sports Roundup: Why Gonzaga Basketball Can Thrive Without the Pac-12
The SeaTown Sports Brew is a weekly briefing and roundup providing insight into Seattle’s sports teams and athletes. Have a tip? Leave us a comment or email me at kevin@seatownsports.org. Subscribe below if you want this in your inbox every Monday.
The Leadoff - Gonzaga's Path Without the Pac-12
9/23/24, 8 p.m. - Editor’s Note : After the publishing of this post Brett McMurphy from the Action Network reported that Gonzaga is leaving the WCC for the Pac-12 in 2026.
A little over a week ago, the Pac-12 announced the addition of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, and San Diego State, to join Washington State and Oregon State.
To be recognized as an FBS conference, the Pac-12 will need to add two more schools. There is no shortage of rumored schools that the Pac-12 is targeting to fill these two slots.
Additionally, more than a few reporters have suggested that the Pac-12 may or should consider adding Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s as non-football members to the Pac-12. Gonzaga potentially departing the WCC in favor of another conference is a talking point that has gained traction in recent years as a result of conference realignment. Specifically, rumors have floated about Gonzaga moving to the Big-12.
But how about the Pac-12? Is Gonzaga joining the Pac-12 an actual possibility?
Maybe. But my initial take is that the Pac-12 needs Gonzaga more than Gonzaga needs the Pac-12.
The advantages of Gonzaga in the Pac-12 are obvious.
I consider Gonzaga one of “blue bloods” in college basketball. Though the program has yet to win a national championship, it may be the most successful program in the country in the past 25 years not to do so. The Bulldogs have played in the NCAA tournament 25 years in a row since 1999 (excluding the canceled 2020 tournament), advanced to 14 Sweet Sixteens, 6 Elite Eights, 2 Final Fours, and 2 National Championship games.
Adding Gonzaga to the Pac-12 would give the conference a flagship basketball program that would elevate the NCAA tournament resumes of every school in the Pac-12. Gonzaga’s impact would further be bolstered if its addition was paired with its rival Saint Mary’s. Gonzaga is also on the West Coast and would make geographic sense for the current six members in terms of travel.
But does Gonzaga need the Pac-12 to be successful?
The answer is no.
Gonzaga has more than proven that the WCC is an adequate home for it. The mid-major conference is not weak by any means and at its best has been a three-bid NCAA tournament conference. With the addition of Grand Canyon in 2025, the WCC’s ceiling may be four teams into the NCAA tournament. Further, Gonzaga gets a larger share of NCAA tournament funds within the WCC’s distribution framework.
Would the Pac-12 really act as much of an upgrade for Gonzaga?
Possibly.
While Washington State and Oregon State have combined for only five NCAA tournament appearances in the past 25 years, San Diego State was the 2023 NCAA Tournament runner-up, and the possibility of Memphis would also add a traditionally strong basketball school to the Pac-12. Colorado State and Boise State have also compiled several NCAA tournament appearances in the past decade.
However, joining the Pac-12 presents two issues for Gonzaga.
First, would Gonzaga have any desire to face Pac-12 schools twice a year, and risk racking up conference losses in a mid-major conference?
Second, would this collection of schools provide enough of a case to garner a lucrative media rights deal?
Why would Gonzaga jump to the Pac-12 when the Big-12’s media rights deal would net it more money in the long run? Conference games against schools like Kansas, Kansas State, Arizona, and Houston will certainly bring in more money than the matchups the Pac-12 and WCC would be able to put together.
Further, from a competition perspective, losing games to these Big-12 schools would not harm Gonzaga’s NCAA tournament resume as much as losses in the Pac-12 would. A loss to Colorado State is much more harmful than a loss to Arizona.
But who knows? Maybe the Pac-12 can lure Gonzaga by pitching a potentially lucrative media rights deal. And maybe Gonzaga could see the benefit of being in a tougher conference and shedding away its traditional tough non-conference slate.
I’m interested in hearing what our readers who follow Gonzaga basketball think of all of this. I know we have a few.
Do you want Gonzaga to join the Pac-12? The Big-12? Or are you happy with the way things are and will be with the WCC?
Winners and Losers
Winners - Washington Huskies (3-1) - The Huskies bounced back after a disappointing Apple Cup loss, with an opening Big Ten conference win over Northwestern. Our post-game analysis is here:
Winners - Seattle Seahawks (3-0) - The Seahawks remain undefeated after a 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins fueled by its strong defensive performance. Our hot takes on the Seahawks start at 43:07:
Losers- Seattle Storm (25-15) - The Storm fell to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 1 of the opening round of the WNBA playoffs. They now face an elimination game on Tuesday.
Losers - Seattle Mariners (80-76) - Splitting the week against the Yankees and Rangers, again, would usually be an okay week, but you need more than that at this point of the season. The M’s have 6.3% playoff odds entering the final week of the season, sitting 2 games back in the Wild Card.
Winners - Seattle Sounders FC (13-9-8) - The Sounders ended with a 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes. Jordan Morris scored both goals for Seattle.
Losers - Seattle Reign (5-5-11) - The Reign fell 1-0 to the Houston Dash. It was their second-straight loss. With five games remaining it appears unlikely that the Reign will qualify for the playoffs.
On-Deck
The Mariners (80-76) finish their season with a three-game road series against the Astros (85-71) and then come back home for one last three-game series against the Oakland A’s (67-89). All games will be televised on ROOTNW.
The Storm (0-1) play a first-round elimination game against the Las Vegas Aces (1-0) in Las Vegas on Tuesday 9/24, at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN. If the Storm win Game 2, Game 3 will be in Seattle on Wednesday 9/25.
The Washington Huskies (3-1) travel to Piscataway, New Jersey for a Friday night (9/27) game against Rutgers (3-0) at 5 p.m. on FOX.
The Sounders (13-9-8) host the Houston Dynamo (13-8-9) on Saturday 9/28, 7:30 p.m. on Apple TV+ (MLS Season Pass).
The Reign (5-5-11) host Bay FC (8-1-12) on Sunday 9/29, 3 p.m. on NWSL+ and KONG.
The Seahawks (3-0) are also on the road for Monday Night Football (9/30) against the Detroit Lions (2-1) at 5:15 p.m. on ABC.
The Kraken have a busy week of preseason matches:
Tuesday 9/24, 7 p.m. at Vancouver Canucks on NHL Network and KONG.
Friday 9/27, 7 p.m. vs. Vancouver Canucks at Climate Pledge Arena on KONG.
Saturday 9/28, 6 p.m. at Edmonton Oilers on KONG>
Fast Break
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Is Gonzaga a blue blood or is Few a blue blood coach? I’d argue the latter. The idea that Gonzaga is a blue blood in the same vein as Kentucky or Duke or UNC and can always rely on reloading with elite coaches and players isn’t accurate. I don’t think they “need” the pac12 but seems like a more stable future post-Few
Finally this lifestyle rag covers some hard-hitting news! I'm of the opinion that the Zags will thrive whether they stay in the WCC or head to the new PAC-?. They've grown their own brand and developed the infrastructure of a blue blood program to attract draw audiences, attract top talent, and convince other powerhouses to play them. With regards to the latter, conference affiliation mainly boils down to whether the season is front-loaded or tough matchups are better spread out throughout. Obviously the more balanced option would be preferable. But for me culture tips the balance towards staying. Not only is the WCC a better fit for Gonzaga's athletic program in terms of university type and geography. But the WCC clearly wants Gonzaga to be there. Gonzaga can't force all other schools to invest in their programs and make for a more competitive environment. But you see certain trues really trying, using Gonzaga as a benchmark and a selling point to recruits. While those assembling the new Pac-12 would probably love to have Gonzaga to boost its basketball profile, I suspect the league members will see it like a tack-on and a second-class member. The benefits aren't appealing enough to make putting up with that worth it! Big-12 or bust. Go Zags.