Concluding its annual meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., the Board of Directors representing the eight members voted unanimously to "begin exploring expansion options to determine how additional members could strengthen the conference," the MWC said in a release posted on its Web site.

Javan Hedlund, MWC director of communications, said the 12-month process could result in "from zero to four" new members.

The MWC said a subcommittee of the Board of Directors will develop parameters by which potential members will be evaluated. That process will begin immediately, with membership options to be evaluated over the next 12 months.

Although the MWC did not say which schools it might consider, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i and Nevada have been the most prominently speculated upon. All are currently members of the Western Athletic Conference.

The MWC began in 1999 after eight schools — Air Force, Brigham Young, Colorado State, Nevada-Las Vegas, New Mexico, San Diego State, Utah and Wyoming — broke away from the 16-team WAC.

Since that time the MWC has refused to consider expansion. It had placed a moratorium on expansion through June 2004.

Because most conferences require their members give at least a year’s notice before leaving, any new members the MWC might choose to take on likely wouldn’t begin competition until at least fall 2005.

Under WAC rules, a school must declare its intention to leave prior to Sept. 1 of the year before it departs.