The University of Massachusetts football program could be joining Temple in the Mid-American Conference, possibly as soon as next month, the Boston Globe reported on Friday.
Citing sources with the league and the school, the newspaper reported that MAC officials visited the campus and also Gillette Stadium -- home of the Patriots -- where some UMass home games could be played.
"We're not going to comment on anything regarding that,'' said UMass athletic director John McCutcheon, according to the newspaper. "But our discussions involve football only and we are still talking about making a decision sooner rather than later.''
Like Temple, UMass wants to remain in the Atlantic 10 for other sports, especially basketball, but the MAC would ask that the schools play non-conference hoops games against MAC opponents.
The move can't be made official until September when a moratorium is lifted for Championship Subdivision schools to jump to the Bowl Subdivision. UMass then would have to go through a two-year transition period before becoming a full MAC member in 2013.