something like a 20 million dollar (or some big amount) buy out to leave the BIG12 and having to renegotiate a contract with ESPN which is the only real way independence was possible in the first place.

Do you actually think BYU just says "lets go independent" and that's the end of it? Its not that simple. Just going independent was - and still is a huge risk.

And you think BYU overestimated their position.