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.
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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
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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
#Exhibition
*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):
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Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho