Utah could have said something about wishing they could have found a way for BYU to come along.... in one fashion or another.
I think it actually would have been good politically at the local level for them to have done so.
I am not suggesting that Utah would have been successful in helping BYU get into the PAC. I am one that believes that the PAC is NEVER inviting BYU in any circumstance.
I am just saying that Utah made it clear that their disposition towards BYU is not the same as BYU holds for Utah, and Utah State for that matter.
As a case in point, consider Chris Hill and the Utah Admin not scheduling BYU for two years. I think that it is a related symptom of the same perspective up at the U. They want to be seen as "moving beyond" BYU; it is a feather in their cap as they see it. A case of being little brother for way too long if you ask me and trying to compensate for it (channeling Shrek ).