The Mountain West Conference has extended invitations to join the league to Fresno State and Nevada.

The MWC announced on Wednesday that it has offered the Bulldogs
and Wolf Pack an opportunity to leave the Western Athletic
Conference and join a league that's losing Utah -- and possibly BYU
next season but gaining Boise State, another WAC school.

The MWC announcement came just minutes after league member BYU
acknowledged reports that the Cougars could be going independent in
football and joining the WAC in all other sports. The BYU statement
stopped well short of confirming any of the reports, saying only
that the school will explore its options.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson was out of the office Wednesday and
did not immediately return calls and e-mails seeking comment.