Gonzaga will start the 2025-26 season in Spokane against Texas Southern on November 3rd. The member of the SWAC always tests themselves against the top competition during the non-conference, traveling across the country for buy game opportunities against power conference programs. This is an underrated challenge to open up the season for the Zags before the true gauntlet begins.
The Tigers are heading into their eighth year under the tenure of coach Johnny Jones. He has led the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances during that stretch. In 2024-25, Texas Southern finished with a 15-17 overall record, 12-6 in league play, which placed them in a tie for third in the SWAC standings.
Gonzaga has won 21 consecutive season openers under coach Mark Few. Here is where the full 2025-26 non-conference schedule for the Zags currently stands:
Kraziness in the Kennel (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane) – October 4th
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
Baylor – Date/location to be determined
*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
That’s a total of 12 non-conference games right now, with 18 West Coast Conference games to be played as well. In 2025-26, the maximum games played for a college basketball program is 31 before it bumps up to 32 in 2026-27. One more buy game against one final mid-to-low major program is expected to be announced.
The final slate of opponents for WCC play will start on December 28th (official dates/times to be announced later) and look like this:
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
