Mountain West takes Boise St.

BOISE - Boise State on Friday accepted an invitation to join the Mountain West Conference as the two-time Fiesta Bowl winner seeks out a league that's a better launching pad into lucrative bowl games.

Boise State, now with the Western Athletic Conference, would become the Mountain West Conference's 10th member. The move would be effective July 1, 2011.

Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said Colorado's Pac-10 jump on Thursday was the catalyst for the Mountain West to move quickly to grab Boise State.

He added there's still discussion among Mountain West university presidents on whether the league should remain at 10 schools, or expand to 12 or even 16, to boost its BCS chances.

He expects to readjust his conference's television package with CBS Sports and Versus to reflect BSU's inclusion starting in 2011. The conference is midway through a 10-year, $120 million deal with the networks and Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier said he expects all 17 of his school's athletic disciplines to benefit.

Idaho athletic director Rob Spear said he hopes the Vandals can continue to play Boise State in football and other sports.