The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS (formerly Division I-A). The WAC covers a broad expanse of the western United States, with member institutions located in California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah, plus the non-western state of Louisiana (traditionally associated with the South). It is generally considered a mid-major conference, since it is not a member of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) selection system.