The WAC is the sixth oldest among the nation’s 11 Division I-A conferences. Its history traces back to July 27, 1962, when the original six-team league of Arizona, Arizona State, Brigham Young, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming began competition. The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States, with member institutions located in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah. At one time, the WAC was the largest conference in the US with 16 members. However, many defected to form and join other conferences, which leaves us with the current make-up of the conference. No current members own any National Championships as WAC members, but BYU was the AP national champion in football back in 1985. The conference by and large is very competitive, and usually knocks off a top ranked squad every season whether it is on the football field or hardwood.