ESPN and the Western Athletic Conference have reached a contract extension that will double the amount of football games telecast, feature 300 regular-season games in various sports and cover 45 championship events, including women's volleyball tournaments.

The contract runs through the spring of 2017.

"The WAC is a significant player on the college landscape and we are thrilled they will call ESPN home through 2016-17," said Burke Magnus, ESPN Senior Vice President. "You can not talk championship level teams without including WAC members in that conversation."

WAC football teams, Boise State and the University of Hawai'i, played in Bowl Championship Series Bowl games the past two seasons. Fresno State won the College World Series in June. Last season's WAC football title game between Boise State and UH on Nov. 23 was the most viewed regular season ESPN2 game last year.

"I think that this is recognition throughout the nation that the WAC is increasing in its quality of play and its national visibility," said Dick Tomey, current San Jose State and former UH football coach, in a press release statement. "It's a recognition on the part of ESPN that this is a heck of a conference. So, we're very pleased with that."

Said coach Pat Hill, whose Fresno State football beat Rutgers last week and hopes to be this year's BCS party-crasher: "ESPN has provided excellent national exposure of our program this decade and we look forward for that to continue. ESPN has been good for Fresno State and I think Fresno State has been good for ESPN."

Under the new agreement, the number of football telecasts will double per year from eight to a minimum of 16, with at least 10 on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 and at least six on ESPNU. A minimum of nine games will be conference games with an average of five on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2. Every school will appear at least once on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

This season, at least two UH games will be on ESPN — Boise State Oct. 17 and either the Washington State (Nov. 29) or Cincinnati (Dec. 6) game.

"For the past five years, WAC football has benefited greatly from the exposure it has received from ESPN," said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. "The WAC values its relationship with the 'leader in college sports' and is confident that this extension will allow WAC football to continue to be a prominent player in the BCS. But just as important, this deal will finally get the WAC's men's basketball teams the type of national exposure it deserves. And finally, for the first time ever, women's basketball regular season games will be aired on the ESPN networks along with the championship contests for volleyball and women's basketball."

In women's sports, volleyball and basketball championships will be aired on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU. It also will air six regular-season events, in volleyball, basketball or softball, this year, seven next year and eight in 2010-11.

"I'm thrilled the WAC and ESPN see an importance of adding more exposure for women's sports on a national level," University of Hawai'i women's volleyball coach Dave Shoji said in a statement. "As the popularity of women's sports has increased by large numbers over the years, we are getting closer to a time when our female athletes get to share the national spotlight with their male counterparts. I'm glad that the WAC has taken proactive steps that will not only help the teams in our conference, but also the growth of women's sports in general."

Men's basketball coverage will quadruple the number of games per year with a minimum of six in the regular season on ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 (three must be conference games). The conference championship game and one semifinal will also be shown on one of the three networks. A minimum of six regular-season games each year on ESPNU plus one quarterfinal game from the tournament. Every school will appear at least once on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.

"Exposure is the name of the game in Division I basketball," Utah State men's basketball coach Stew Morrill said in a statement. "To quadruple our basketball television coverage with the ESPN network is a tremendous step forward to insure the future growth and success of WAC basketball. We have traditionally been a multi-bid league for the NCAA Tournament and this new television agreement can be a huge piece in keeping that tradition alive."