By John Nestor

The Mountain West Conference and Conference USA have agreed to form a merged 22-team football league.

The move is being done in hopes of stabilizing both conferences and improving their chances at obtaining a Bowl Championship Series automatic qualifying bid.

The league will have a two-division alignment and will play a championship game, Conference USA commissioner Britton Banowsky said during a conference call announcing the move on Friday.

The two leagues would maintain their independent structures in all other sports. The football arrangement could begin as early as 2012.

The timing of the announcement comes as the Big East Conference has reportedly offered invitations to Mountain West members Boise State and Air Force and C-USA members Central Florida, Houston and SMU.

Football independent Navy is also reportedly being pursued by the Big East.

Banowsky and Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said Boise State, Air Force and UCF voted on the alliance, and that all three schools endorsed the move.

 

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Mountain West And Conference USA Combine Form 22-Team Football League