Utah has not been contacted by Pac-10, Mountain West commissioner says

Now that Texas is out of the picture, some have speculated that Utah might become the 12th member of the Pacific 10 Conference.

But don't plan a "Welcome to the Pac-10" party for the Utes just yet.

They still reside in the Mountain West Conference, and Mountain West Commissioner Craig Thompson said Utah's athletic director told him Monday that the university had not been contacted by the Pac-10.

Thompson added that he has not heard from Pac-10 Commissioner Larry Scott since Texas declined the invitation to join the expanding conference Monday. Thompson was attending a meeting of conference commissioners in Northern California on Tuesday; Scott was not in attendance.

With the addition of Colorado last week, the Pac-10 is one member short of the 12 it needs to hold a football championship game.

-- Chuck Schilken

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Photo: Utes running back Junior Fonua celebrates at the 2009 Sugar Bowl. Credit: Matt Stamey / US Presswire.