A group of presidents from the Mountain West and Conference USA are scheduled to meet today in Dallas to shape the impending merger between the two.

Key issues to be resolved include whether the consolidation will extend beyond just football, as originally planned, and whether new schools will be added or others moved.

"Right now the focus of the conversation continues to be on a football consolidation, but it could certainly evolve into something more significant involving all sports," said Britton Banowsky, C-USA commissioner. "So, it is really too early to suggest for sure what format it will take."

The merger could take place as soon a this fall, but 2013 appears more likely.

Regardless, the University of Hawaii, which joins the MWC on July 1, would be a football-only member, people involved say. Most of UH’s other sports will begin play in the Big West in 2012-13.

The MWC and C-USA announced a memorandum of understanding about a merger in October while also seeking to negotiate a new umbrella TV contract and secure a Bowl Championship Series berth for the winner of a planned championship game.

But that plan, which had envisioned more than 20 participating members, has been hit hard by significant defections. The MWC is losing Texas Christian to the Big 12 this year and Boise State and San Diego State join the Big East in 2013. Meanwhile, Central Florida, Southern Methodist and Houston will depart C-USA for the Big East.

Those moves will leave the MWC with eight members in 2013 and C-USA with nine, likely leading to some realignment. Both a shifting of some schools and expansion have been discussed.

One prominent proposal would move Texas-El Paso, a former Western Athletic Conference member now in C-USA, to a western division with current MWC members, while Louisiana Tech, a current WAC member, or Texas-San Antonio, an impending WAC member, are invited to join an eastern division.