WAC to extend offer to NMSU

For the first time in 42 years, New Mexico State University and the University of Texas-El Paso may be conference rivals. UTEP Athletics Director Bob Stull confirmed Wednesday that an announcement is expected today that New Mexico State and Utah State — both members of the Sun Belt Conference — will be extended an invitation to join the Western Athletic Conference.

LAS CRUCES, N.M. (Oct. 22) -- New Mexico State and Utah State will be invited to join the Western Athletic Conference, the athletic director of a WAC school confirmed.

The league planned to announce the invitations Thursday, Texas-El Paso athletic director Bob Stull told the Las Cruces Sun-News.

Stull said a conference call with other WAC athletic directors on Tuesday yielded recommendations for adding New Mexico State and Utah State.

New Mexico State athletic director Brian Faison and WAC commissioner Karl Benson would neither confirm nor deny that an announcement regarding league membership would be made.

But Utah State President Kermit D. Hall told the Deseret Morning News in Salt Lake City that a news conference at the school had been scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

On Monday, the WAC identified eight schools as possible replacements for Rice, Tulsa and Southern Methodist, which will be leaving the league to join Conference USA.