Gonzaga Surprises Fans with Unexpected Second Exhibition Clash Against NAIA Northwest—What’s Behind the Move?

Change is the name of the game this season, and NCAA basketball just dropped a bombshell that’s shaking up the preseason grind. Teams can now sneak in up to two preseason exhibition games against any four-year institution—yes, even the big dogs from Division I—starting right out of the gate this year. For Gonzaga, this means a fresh slate of tune-ups, kicking off with a match against NAIA’s Northwest University, a modest Christian college tucked away in Kirkland, Washington. It’s a chance to shake off the rust before facing stiffer competition, like Division II’s Western Oregon, and then dive full throttle into the grind of the regular season. This revamped approach not only spices up the roadmap for the Zags but also stirs anticipation for what’s coming down the pike. If you’re hungry to see the full playbill and get the lowdown on Gonzaga’s schedule and the West Coast Conference’s TV dance cards, you won’t want to miss a beat here. LEARN MORE

The NCAA approved a proposal allowing teams to play up to two preseason exhibition games against any four-year school (including Division I teams, which Saint Mary’s did by scheduling Arizona in Tucson and Ole Miss in Oxford), both starting this upcoming season.

Gonzaga will first play NAIA Northwest University on October 19th at 2 p.m. PT in an exhibition. The Eagles are in nearby Kirkland, Washington, and are a Christian college.

Last season, Northwest finished third to last in the Cascade Collegiate Conference with a 4-18 league record, 5-23 overall. They compete against Warner Pacific, Eastern Oregon, Southern Oregon, and Lewis-Clark State, whom the Zags have played in recent years.

Following that tune-up will be another exhibition against D-II Western Oregon on October 27th, and after that is when things are for real.

Here is Gonzaga’s full 2025-26 non-conference schedule:

Kraziness in the Kennel (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – October 4th

#Northwest (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – October 19th

#Western Oregon (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – October 27th

Texas Southern (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – November 3rd

Oklahoma (Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington) – November 8th

Creighton (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – November 11th

Arizona State (Desert Financial Arena in Tempe, Arizona) – November 14th

Southern Utah (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – November 17th

*Alabama (Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada) – November 24th

*Maryland (Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada) – November 25th

*Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada (consolation/third place/championship) – November 26th

Kentucky (Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee) – December 5th

North Florida (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – December 7th

UCLA (Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington) – December 13th

Campbell (McCarthey Athletic Center in Spokane, Washington) – December 17th

Oregon (Moda Center in Portland, Oregon) – December 21st

#Exhibition

*Arena location for the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada, 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 West Coast Conference schedule for Gonzaga was also recently announced, but it still has some moving parts, with nine of the matchups having a span of dates listed in order to keep “date flexibility with national TV partners to provide more national exposure for the conference on additional days of the week.” The television partners will once again be ESPN and CBS Sports Network.

The WCC Tournament returns to the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas for the 18th consecutive year and will be held from March 5th through the 10th.

Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho