SALT LAKE CITY -- Western Athletic Conference officials expressed confidence Tuesday that the league would remain viable despite rumored defections.

Utah State and San Jose State both acknowledged this week they are in discussions with the Mountain West Conference over realignment for 2013.

Conference USA already is set to bring aboard Texas-San Antonio just months before the school was to begin its first season in the WAC.

WAC interim commissioner Jeff Hurd subsequently issued a statement Tuesday saying he was aware of the changing landscape in Division I athletics. He said the conference is evaluating membership options but would not speculate on what those might be.

Hurd further said he had confidence the WAC would maintain its more than 50-year history as a "preeminent Division I conference."