At least two schools that are prospective Western Athletic Conference expansion candidates are undertaking evaluation studies aimed at plotting their futures.

Both North Texas and Montana already have or are in the process of contracting with consultants to study their programs and advise on future plans, schools spokesmen said.

The nine-member WAC has tabled expansion plans for the present, but is expected to revisit them in the spring in advance of Boise State’s July 1, 2011, departure for the Mountain West Conference.

Neinas Sports Services has been retained to provide a study for UNT, school officials said. The study is expected to be completed "in the next month or two" according to a spokesman.

UNT’s interim president, V. Lane Rawlins, was at Memphis when he previously hired Chuck Neinas as a consultant prior to the Tigers joining Conference USA.

UNT rejected WAC overtures in 2004 to stay in the Sun Belt Conference, but might reconsider if there is no interest from C-USA.

Meanwhile, Montana is in the process of picking a consultant to help it decide if a move to the Football Bowl Subdivision is feasible.

"We will definitely be undertaking such a study soon," associate athletic director Dave Guffey said.

The Grizzlies are in the Football Championship Subdivision. where they have won two national championships and been to four title games in the past 10 years.