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Gonzaga joins Pac-12 as UNLV decides to stay in Mountain West

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Oct 1, 2024 12:18 PM ET

The Pac-12 has acquired another major member in its revival bid. On Tuesday, Gonzaga University announced that it had accepted an invitation to join the conference.

In a joint statement, the conference said Gonzaga — joining five Mountain West programs being added in 2026 — "collectively cement the conference’s geographic foundation while elevating its national presence and strengthening its basketball and football prestige."

Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State will all depart the Mountain West conference over the next two years — part of an NCAA grace period granted to the now-two-member Pac-12. After 10 original members left for other power conferences this year, Washington State and Oregon State remained.

A first look at the new Pac 12 with today's announcement of Gonzaga joining the conference expected at 11AM. A massive get for the rebuilding conf. pic.twitter.com/anncFuUuLJ
— Sidelines Sports Network™ (@Sidelines_SN) October 1, 2024

Gonzaga, a member of the West Coast Conference, will join as a full member (sans football, which ceased to exist in 1941) but primarily offers athletic legitimacy in basketball. This leaves the Pac-12 one football member short of meeting the NCAA eight-team minimum to be FBS eligible.

Reports suggested UNLV, another Mountain West program, was being targeted. However, the school decided to stay in its current home after being granted higher control and revenue share, per Sports Business Journal.

But that doesn't mean they're staying there forever. Athletic director Erick Harper and university president Keith Whitfield told SBJ on Monday that the Mountain West's "major concessions" will aid them in "earning an invitation to a power conference."

It's unclear why the Rebels spurned the interest reportedly made by the Pac-12 now and which of the remaining Power Four conferences it aims to join later.

The Pac-12 isn't done adding members. It reportedly expresses interest in Grand Canyon University and Saint Mary's in the same capacity as Gonzaga despite the Antelopes agreeing to join the WCC in 2025.

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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