Gonzaga to Pac-12 move not a solution for Teresa Gould's conference realignment woes due to one big reason 

Teresa Gould's Pac-12 made a big addition on Tuesday by adding Gonzaga to the conference. The Bulldogs were linked to joining the Pac-12 and the move for 2026 was made official.

Although Gonzaga has one of the top basketball programs in college, adding the school to the Pac-12 doesn't help the conference.

For it to be considered a Power 5 conference again, it needs to have eight football members, and Gonzaga doesn't have a football team.

So, despite adding their eighth team, the Pac-12 is still short with only seven football teams. However, Gould has made it clear the conference is still looking to expand further.

“The interest in the Pac-12 as a brand, and the interest in the future conference that we’re going to create and build is very, very high across a lot of different stakeholders,” Gould told On3. “Whether it’s potential media partners, whether it’s other corporate partners, institutions from other conferences, there’s just a lot of buzz and a lot of energy and a lot of interest in what we’re doing moving forward.”

The conference could also restart talks with the CFP for its new $7.8 billion television contract, according to On3. Moreover, a College Football Playoff qualifying spot would be open for a hypothetical eight-team Pac-12 and its return to Power 5 status.

But, to do that, the Pac-12 still needs an eighth football member, which Gonzaga is not.

So despite the addition of Gonzaga, the Pac-12 is still not a Power 5 conference for a chance at the CFP so the latest expansion isn't a solution for the Pac-12.

Teresa Gould focusing on rebuilding Pac-12 football

With how much revenue football adds, Gould told On3 that the focus is on rebuilding the football programs.

“So, my role will certainly be, moving forward, No. 1 to build a Pac-12 conference and to have a membership that is in the upper echelon of college football and compete at the highest level. And then to work with my peer commissioners at the CFP level to activate that look-in provision – to see where we fit in the future in that agreement.”

Gould and the Pac-12 have added Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Utah State to the existing members: Oregon State and Washington State.