Report: AAC moving toward 6-school expansion

The American Athletic Conference is getting closer to expansion.

The AAC is expecting applications from six schools this week, sources told Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel.

FAU, Charlotte, North Texas, UTSA, Rice, and UAB are the programs applying for membership. If the schools choose to depart, Conference USA would drop to an eight-team conference.

The process will likely play out over the week, with the schools sending applications as soon as Tuesday, Thamel added.

The exit fee for each program's departure is expected to be $3 million each.

The schools hope to begin playing in the conference beginning in 2023, sources told Brett McMurphy of the Action Network.

The additions would increase the conference's membership to 14 in both basketball and football. Navy is only a full-time member in football, and Wichita State doesn't have a football program.

Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston gave notice this fall about their planned move from the AAC to the Big 12, while UConn left the conference following the 2019 season.

The proposed expansion comes weeks after rumors circulated that the AAC had an interest in offering Boise State, Colorado State, Air Force, and San Diego State membership. The conference didn't formally extend invitations to the Mountain West members.