WCC adds Seattle and GCU

[UConnTrumbull]

Surprised this hasn’t been posted. Relatively small shake up but I wonder if this move signals a Gonzaga defection soon, especially by adding Seattle.

 

[Vowelguy]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Pac 2.0 is targeting Zaga and St Mary’s.

 

[Rufus]

Wouldn’t surprise me if Pac 2.0 is targeting Zaga and St Mary’s.

That would be a smart move for the new PAC.

 

[shizzle787]

Surprised this hasn’t been posted. Relatively small shake up but I wonder if this move signals a Gonzaga defection soon, especially by adding Seattle.

Gonzaga is probably gone. They locked the door on Seattle for years. Methinks the Zags are joining the BE or Big 12.

 

[UConnJim]

Surprised this hasn’t been posted. Relatively small shake up but I wonder if this move signals a Gonzaga defection soon, especially by adding Seattle.

Gonzaga (Spokane) is almost 300 miles from Seattle so not the same market. Seattle is interesting as they went to the NCAA Championship in 1958 with Elgin Baylor and they were part of the WCC at one point, but then moved down a level.

 

[ScottVib]

Seattle's struggled lately, GCU had faced a lot of online degree backlash at one point, but success in a big market probably did a lot of help overcome that. This also emperils the WAC's survival for like that 4th time since the Mountain West killed off their football conference.

 

[Vowelguy]

Seattle's struggled lately, GCU had faced a lot of online degree backlash at one point, but success in a big market probably did a lot of help overcome that. This also emperils the WAC's survival for like that 4th time since the Mountain West killed off their football conference.

If the PAC doesn’t take everyone from the MW, the remaining teams (eg Wyoming) could end up back in the WAC, assuming it moves to FBS.

 

[huskymedic]

From the parts are parts department:



-> Sources have confirmed to Dave Campbell’s Texas Football that Stephen F. Austin will depart the Western Athletic Conference and return to the Southland Conference. The move will happen for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Lumberjacks are returning to a different Southland Conference than they left in 2021. At that time, the future of the SLC was in question after Sam Houston, Lamar, and Abilene Christian joined Tarleton in the WAC. UIW was set to join the ‘Texas Four’ before the 2022-2023 school year. But that was before Chris Grant became Commissioner of the Southland Conference. <-

-> On the other side is the WAC, which is suddenly facing a fate the Southland was facing a mere three years ago. The WAC lost Sam Houston and New Mexico State to CUSA. The conference's future remained stable after UTRGV announced its departure. However, Grand Canyon and Seattle University announced they were leaving the WAC for the West Coast Conference for the 2025-2026 academic year. <-

 

[shizzle787]

WAC down to 7 members. One more departure and the league dies.

 

[Vowelguy]

WAC down to 7 members. One more departure and the league dies.

After the PAC reconstitutes with much of the MW, the leftovers will merge with the WAC.