LAS VEGAS — For the West Coast Conference, we’re about to find out what life is like without Gonzaga.
The Bulldogs, who have been a member of the WCC since 1979, are leaving for the reconstituted Pac-12 come July 1. The void will be attempted to be filled by Denver this coming year and UC San Diego in 2027. That’s not very equitable but I’m sure nobody at Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount, Santa Clara and Pacific are complaining too loudly.
These are interesting times in college athletics to say the least. The Name, Image and Likeness Era along with the transfer portal has forced a seismic shift in fortunes, creating an even wider chasm between the haves and the have nots. When you look at athletic budgets in the SEC, the Big Ten and Big 12 compared to a non-football playing conference like the WCC, it’s like watching two entirely different universes operate…