Concluding its annual meetings in Carlsbad, Calif., the MWC 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 on its Web site.

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

The MWC said a subcommittee of the board "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."

MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said, "It is going to take 90 days to even get to develop the criteria with which we would add potential new members."

The MWC directors are not scheduled to meet in person again until June 2004.

Although neither Thompson nor the MWC would comment on which schools might be considered, Boise State, Fresno State, Hawai'i and Nevada have been the most prominently speculated upon. All are 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 then the MWC had placed a moratorium on expansion through June 2004.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson said the MWC's lifting of the moratorium "comes as no surprise" to the WAC, which also concluded its meetings yesterday at Half Moon Bay, Calif.

"Our membership is committed to maintaining and building the current WAC and, perhaps, taking advantage of some membership opportunities down the road for us," Benson said.

Thompson said, "I think there are a number of reasons to look at expansion. One would be the possibility of helping us in our Bowl Championship Series position. Another would be, as we are three years out on our television contract, maybe there is reason to add more members and bring more value to our national TV package."

The MWC's seven-year, $48 million ABC/ESPN television package expires after the 2005 season. The MWC, along with the WAC, Conference USA and the Mid-American Conference have sought places in the BCS lineup. Only the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific-10 and Southeastern conferences are guaranteed berths in BCS bowls that pay $13 million each.

Because most conferences require members give at least one year's notice before leaving, any schools the MWC might choose to add likely wouldn't begin competition until at least fall 2005.