Greensboro, N.C. ? The Atlantic Coast Conference ended its six-week expansion saga Wednesday by inviting only Miami and Virginia Tech to leave the Big East and join its league.

Boston College and Syracuse, which also were candidates for expansion, were left behind.

Miami and Virginia Tech are the Big East’s two dominant football schools, and the move to go to 11 schools wasn’t one of the expected scenarios after the ACC voted May 13 to expand.

Clemson President James F. Barker, head of the league’s Council of Presidents, said the invitation to Virginia Tech, a dark horse candidate that was added last week at the insistence of Virginia, was “subject to final completion of the conference bylaw requirements” — a site visit that was under way Wednesday in Blacksburg, Va.

Virginia Tech’s governing board, meeting earlier Wednesday, unanimously authorized president Charles Steger to negotiate a deal with the ACC. Voting at a hastily called meeting in Roanoke, Va., the Board of Visitors gave Steger the authority to make the decision himself, and he said he was “inclined to accept” the offer.

Miami President Donna Shalala said school officials were disappointed that Boston College and Syracuse weren’t included.

“Since this is a new proposal, we will evaluate it before making a decision,” she said. Athletic director Paul Dee added it may take a few days for Miami to decide.

ACC commissioner John Swofford said he didn’t expect any problems with the invitation to either school, “but that’s in their hands.”