Do you think Gonzaga should jump to the Big 12?
As the Big 12 aggressively pursues further expansion, Gonzaga was brought up as a potential candidate during meetings between conference administrators in early February.
The league discussed the possibility of adding Gonzaga as a basketball-only program, which would have realignment implications beyond the Big 12.
With the announcement that Texas and Oklahoma have reached a deal to leave the Big 12 one year earlier than expected, the door is open for the Zags to join one of the premier conferences in college basketball.
Gonzaga has reportedly stated its preference is for all of its sports to join, potentially ending its membership with the West Coast Conference. The Zags entered the WCC in 1979.
The Big 12 and Gonzaga have engaged in at least two prior discussions, as league commissioner Brett Yormark has expressed an interest in adding a school in the Pacific time zone.
"We'd love to get into that fourth (Pacific) time zone and we will at some point," Yormark said in December.
Gonzaga has also explored the Pac-12 and the Big East as potential landing spots, but the Big 12 would likely provide the highest level of competition for basketball.
Six Big 12 schools were named in Monday's Associated Press Top 25 men's basketball poll, the most of any conference.
The past two NCAA Championships were won by Big 12 programs — Baylor in 2021 and Kansas in 2022.
Where do you stand on Gonzaga's flirtation with a bigger conference? Do you think the Zags should jump to the Big 12 or stand pat in the WCC?
