they don't have their own deal with ESPN like BYU does. They have to participate in the MWC/ESPN bonus system, which means they only get about 1/3-1/2 the money per ESPN home game that BYU gets. They also have fewer ESPN games than BYU does, although they do have more games shown on ESPN than any other conference partner.

BYU has increase its revenues some $15 million per year since going independent. BSU just doesn't have that ability.