Report: Baylor, Gonzaga set to face off in season-opening game in Spokane

Gonzaga and Baylor have agreed to play a non-conference game on Nov. 4 — the first day of the 2024-25 college basketball season — according to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman. The game will be played at Spokane Arena.

The two teams have also agreed to a pair of neutral site games each of the next two seasons, keeping two of the best programs in college basketball playing in the non-conference going forward. The future locations are yet to be determined.

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The two teams also met in the 2021 national championship game, which the Bears won. Since then, both programs have remained among the top tier in the sport. Gonzaga has kept up its streak of making Sweet 16 and the Bears continue to be among the upper crust of the Big 12, one of, if not the best college hoops conference in the country.

And now both teams will get a chance to make a big statement for their programs on opening night. And it’s not the only big-time matchup for Baylor early on, as the Bears will run an early gauntlet to begin the 2024-25 season.

Baylor is stocking up the non-conference slate

Arkansas and Baylor are set to play a neutral site game in Dallas on Nov. 9, The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman reported in August. The game will take place at American Airlines Center.

The matchup will highlight the first week of the season as John Calipari begins his tenure at Arkansas. It will also put him against Scott Drew, whose name was a hot one to replace Calipari at Kentucky this offseason.

Drew was one of the first potential candidates at Kentucky after Calipari announced his departure for Arkansas. Ultimately, he chose to stay at Baylor and UK ended up hiring Mark Pope as head coach. Now, Drew and Calipari will square off in an exciting neutral-site game as the college basketball season gets underway.

“In our program, we strive to put Jesus first, then others, then ourselves,” Drew said in a statement confirming his decision. “We truly believe God has called my family and I continue our work here at Baylor, surrounded by the best people and community anyone could be blessed to have. We are grateful for the support of Mack Rhoades, President Livingstone and the entire Baylor Family, and we look forward to working together to bring more championships to Waco. #JOY.”