Report: Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Gonzaga AD Chris Standiford meet again to discuss adding Bulldogs to league

When there’s smoke, there’s usually fire, as the saying goes. That very well might be the case with Gonzaga and the Big 12.

Two weeks after ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported a meeting between Bulldogs athletic director Chris Standiford and Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, The Action Network’s Brett McMurphy said the two sides met again Wednesday ahead of Gonzaga’s game against Texas. Now, he said there’s “growing mutual interest” between the two parties.

Standiford and Yormark initially met before Gonzaga took on Tennessee in a charity scrimmage, but talks were described as “real, but explorative” at the time, The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil reported. Now, things talks appear to be heating up.

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Gonzaga has become a basketball powerhouse in the West Coast Conference, making the last 23 NCAA Tournaments. Mark Few’s group has also made two national championship appearances in 2017 and 2021. In fact, the Bulldogs fell to Big 12 member Baylor in the latter.

More on Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, Gonzaga AD Chris Standiford’s first meeting

Gonzaga AD Chris Standiford met with Yormark in late October in Texas about potentially leaving the West Coast Conference for the Big 12, Thamel wrote Nov. 2. The Bulldogs were in the area to take on Tennessee as part of a charity scrimmage.

Thamel also reported Gonzaga has been exploring a departure from the WCC for some time. The Pac-12 and Big East have emerged as potential destinations, but it’s unclear how extensive those conversations were. Gonzaga has been transparent with the WCC about the discussions.

After Thamel’s report came out, The Athletic’s Dana O’Neil reported the talks are “real, but explorative” and Gonzaga would become a full member of the Big 12. That means the move would affect more than just the basketball program.

If the Big 12 landed Gonzaga, it would add another college basketball powerhouse to the league. Kansas and Baylor have won the last two national championships, and the Bears defeated the Bulldogs to win the 2021 title.

The Big 12 is preparing to add four teams — Houston, Cincinnati, BYU and UCF — next year to help deal with the losses of Texas and Oklahoma, who are leaving for the SEC by 2025. At Big 12 Media Days this year, Yormark said the league is “open for business” as conference realignment dominoes continue to fall. The league also agreed to a new media rights deal last month.