Gonzaga Officially Adds Southern Utah to Non-Conference Schedule

This was first reported by Alex Rosinski back in July, but now Southern Utah has made it certified after posting its full 2025-26 non-conference slate. Gonzaga will host the Thunderbirds in the Kennel on November 17th.

In the Western Athletic Conference last season, coach Rob Jeter’s group finished second-to-last in the conference standings with a 4-12 record in conference play, 12-19 overall. Southern Utah will be making a return to the Big Sky Conference starting in the 2026-27 school year.

In other scheduling news, the second meeting between Gonzaga-Baylor in their three-game series has been pushed back at least one season. This opens up one more slot for Gonzaga’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule, most likely another buy game opportunity in the McCarthey Athletic Center. A college basketball team can have 31 games on its schedule, 32 starting in 2026-27.

Gonzaga will face off against seven (possibly eight) programs that received a bid into last season’s NCAA Tournament during the non-conference. Here is where the full 2025-26 schedule currently stands, filled with Quad 1 opportunities:

Kraziness in the Kennel (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – October 4th

#Western Oregon (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – October 27th

Texas Southern (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – November 3rd

Oklahoma (Spokane Arena in Spokane) – November 8th

Creighton (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – November 11th

Arizona State (Desert Financial Arena in Tempe) – November 14th

Southern Utah (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – November 17th

*Alabama (Players Era Festival in Las Vegas) – November 24th

*Maryland (Players Era Festival in Las Vegas) – November 25th

*Players Era Festival in Las Vegas (consolation/third place/championship) – November 26th

Kentucky (Bridgestone Arena in Nashville) – December 5th

UCLA (Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle) – December 13th

Campbell (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – December 17th

Oregon (Moda Center in Portland) – December 21st

*Arena location for the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas will be at either the MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Michelob ULTRA Arena; Winner receives $1 million, 2nd place at $500,000, 3rd place receives $300,000, 4th place with $200,000

The final 18-game slate of opponents for West Coast Conference play will start on December 28th (official dates/times to be announced later):

Home: Loyola Marymount, Pacific

Away: Oregon State, San Diego

Home and Away: Saint Mary’s, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Washington State, Seattle, Portland, Pepperdine

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho