Mountain West Conference invites Nevada, Fresno St.

COLORADO SPRINGS (AP) - 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.

"We are honored to have received the invitation to join the Mountain West Conference," University of Nevada, Reno President Milt Glick said. "We are seriously considering the invitation, and do so with the best interests of our athletics program, University, community and Wolf Pack fans as our priority."

The school has scheduled a press conference for 7:30 p.m. this evening, where it is expected to announce that the Wolf Pack will join the Mountain West.