Sports

Big XII Looks To Add Major College Basketball Brand At Low Price

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A Big XII logo on a basketball court.

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The Big XII is reportedly back in contact with Gonzaga regarding a potential conference realignment move. The two sides have previously spoken, and a recent update hints that a deal could get done within the next couple of weeks.

There’s also word that the school could join at a lower price than other current members, similar to what we’ve seen with recent ACC addition SMU.

Earlier this offseason, it was rumored that Gonzaga could make the move to the Big XII in order to bolster its basketball resume. While the program has developed into one of the top mid-majors in the country, bringing a long tradition of success could be made more lucrative in a Power Five conference.

In the end, an agreement couldn’t be reached. That was due mainly to the Big XII’s acquisition of a number of PAC 12 schools, as the league quickly grew to 16 members.

According to Seth Davis of The Messenger, a 17th school is back on the table.

The renewed push is being spearheaded by Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who presented his case for Gonzaga’s inclusion during last week’s Big 12 meetings in Dallas… Sources told The Messenger that Yormark would like to see Gonzaga join the Big 12 for the 2024-25 season, but that timetable would be a best-case scenario.

The move would only add to the Big XII’s top-flight basketball resume, while also adding a member for baseball, women’s soccer, volleyball, and men’s and women’s tennis.

Of course, there are issues still needed to be addressed with adding a new school. Scheduling conflicts and revenue distribution immediately come to mind.

With that being said, it seems Gonzaga would be willing to join the Big XII at a discounted rate, at least over the first few seasons, in exchange for the uptick in national exposure.

The conference realignment wheel continues to spin. We’ll see if the Big XII is the beneficiary yet again.