Gonzaga in talks to join Big 12 in what would be major college basketball shake-up

Gonzaga may soon no longer be the big fish in a small pond.

The current West Coast Conference school has begun discussions about leaving to the join the Big 12, according to ESPN. The report said Gonzaga athletic director Chris Standiford met in person last week with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark at the Hyatt hotel in Frisco, Texas, as part of a larger talk about the Zags joining the power conference.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few. AP

Such a move would send shockwaves across the college basketball landscape. Gonzaga, which has been the dominant team in the WCC for years, has more recently emerged as a national powerhouse. The Zags reached the national championship game in 2017 and 2021. They would be joining a conference with significantly more revenue that also saw members Baylor and Kansas win the past two national titles.  

Gonzaga had been exploring a change in conference as the program reached new heights, with the Pac-12 and Big East also being engaged but not to what extent, according to ESPN. The Zags have been open with the WCC about its desires to explore their options.

This comes at a juncture when the Big 12 and its television partners, ESPN and Fox, are nearing an agreement on a six-year extension and fits with Yormark’s desire to expand and potentially add a new time zone with Gonzaga situated in Spokane, Washington. The Post’s Andrew Marchand reported last week that the Big 12 has been aiming for $400 million per year. The potential of Gonzaga joining the Big 12 was hinted at during the negations of the television deal, but was not considered a game-changer.