These types of games against mid-major conference opponents are vital for a school like the Gonzaga Bulldogs, acting as a filler in between matchups with two power conference schools during the non-conference.
According to scheduling guru Rocco Miller of Bracketeer, the New Mexico State Aggies of Conference USA will travel to the Inland Northwest to take on the Zags for their home opener on Nov. 7.
This will be the second-ever meeting between the two programs. Gonzaga beat New Mexico State at the Kennel back in 2013 by a relatively slim margin, 80-68.
Here are the announced contests on coach Mark Few’s 2026-27 non-conference schedule:
*at Arkansas Razorbacks (Oct. 2026, at Bud Walton Arena in Fayetteville, Arkansas)
vs. Purdue Boilermakers (Nov. 2, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
vs. New Mexico State Aggies (Nov. 7, 2026, at McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington)
vs. LSU Tigers (Nov. 14, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Washington)
Kansas State Wildcats/Players Era Festival (Nov. 24-28, 2026, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada)
at Creighton Bluejays (Dec. 12, 2026, at Chi Health Center in Omaha, Nebraska)
vs. Michigan State Spartans (Dec. 19, 2026, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, California)
vs. Duke Blue Devils (Feb. 20, 2027, at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan)
After the opening round matchup with Kansas State at the Players Era, the Zags could end up with either the likes of the Baylor Bears or Alabama Crimson Tide on Nov. 26. Then, either the reigning national champion Michigan Wolverines, Creighton Bluejays, Miami Hurricanes, or TCU Horned Frogs on Nov. 27.
The Players Era title game would take place on Nov. 28. All the games for Gonzaga in Sin City are set for the T-Mobile Arena on the ESPN Networks.
Potential non-conference battles with the Big Ten Conference’s UCLA Bruins and Oregon Ducks are on the fence, either taking place in the 2026-27 or 2027-28 season. UCLA would be the first game of their renewed two-year neutral site series, and Oregon the second game of their two-year neutral site series.
The Pac-12 Conference regular-season matchups and the Pac-12 Conference Tournament dates in Las Vegas, Nevada, have yet to be announced. With nine members in the conference, the Pac-12 is expected to have a round robin scheduling format where each team plays everyone twice. Once at home and once on the road.
The location for the postseason conference tournament looks to be either at the MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Michelob ULTRA Arena.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
