Utah simply has nothing to sell. They play second fiddle in their own state to a non BCS school. And with them giving up the rivalry, they don't even have a great rival to sell. They will always be at the bottom of the food chain in terms of PAC-10 exposure.

They serve two purposes. They got the Pac-12 a championship game...and they help mitigate the influence BYU has in PAC 12 country...but really only on the margins. That's it. Utah will forever be Washington State, Arizona, CAL. They that last guy you bring in just to fill out your recruiting class. If they grab an Urban Meyer...they might have a flash again...but that guy won't stay. They were brought in to be cannon fodder...and they will do an effective job of being so.

Now basketball...when you are only dealing with a roster of 13...I think they actually could compete there. But they will never compete consistently in football. They just don't have anything to sell.