College football Thursday

Big-5 futures

Up: Utah — Season still a success

Stable: BYU — Looking for elusive road victory

Up: Utah State — Can still get to five wins

Down: Weber State — Big Sky season ends

Up: Southern Utah — The year of the Thunderbird

Player to watch

Southern Utah quarterback Brad Sorensen

The sophomore from Grand Terrace, Calif., has had a breakout season for the T-birds. He's thrown for 642 yards in the last two games against UC Davis — where was named National Player of the Week — and Dixie State.

Game of the week

Utah at Notre Dame

Saturday, 12:30 p.m., NBC

Any other week this would be HUGE deal for the Utah and the program's fans — and despite last week's loss, it still is a big deal.

Conference expansion

WAC to add Texas schools

The Western Athletic Conference is expected to announce on Thursday the addition of the University of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State University, along with the University of Denver as a non-football member.

A person familiar with the decisions, speaking on condition of anonymity because final approval of the additions were still being worked out, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the three schools will become members of the WAC in 2012.

Texas-San Antonio administrators were scheduled to appear in Austin on Thursday before the UT System board of regents and discuss a change in conferences.

WAC commissioner Karl Benson had a teleconference with reporters scheduled for Thursday at 3 p.m. MST to make an announcement about WAC expansion.

The WAC needs to replace Boise State, which is moving to the Mountain West Conference after this school year, and Fresno State and Nevada, which will join the MWC in 2012.

The additions of Texas-San Antonio and Texas State will give the WAC eight football members in 2012.

UTSA is starting a football program that will begin play in 2011. Former Miami coach Larry Coker is the Roadrunners' coach.

Texas State plays in the Southland Conference in the Championship Subdivision of Division I, but has been exploring the possibility of moving up to FBS. The Bobcats are 4-5 overall and 1-4 in the Southland Conference this season.

Denver competes in the Sun Belt in most sports and does not have a football team.

The University of Montana, an FCS powerhouse, is also considering a move to Division I's top level. If it does, it could also find a home in the WAC.

The other members of the WAC are San Jose State, Idaho, New Mexico State, Hawaii, Louisiana Tech and Utah State. Hawaii has been considering becoming an independent in football.

—Associated Press

State of the state

BYU (4-5)

Opponent: Colorado State

Location: Fort Collins, Colo.

Day: Saturday

Time: noon

TV: The mtn.

Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM