USC/UCLA: Obviously, the recruiting element is worth considering.
Utah: This should be on all of your lists. We're your rivals. Who DOESN'T want to play their rivals?
Texas: Again, recruiting.
ND: Obvious.

But Air Force? (over Utah, Zeph? lol)
USU? Reeks of "sticking it to the yewts!" *eyeroll*
Oregon? No perceivable reason, other than they're good. Same with Bama. So because they're good, you would want to schedule them every year? Makes no sense.

For me, if Utah was independent:

BYU
Utah State
USC
Texas