Ute man makes some good points and this is coming from a guy who roots for both the Utes/Cougs so long as they aren't playing the Ags.
The TV argument is rubbish. Boise State was on basic national cable (ESPN, ESPN 2, CBS, ABC) 9 times, actually one more game on big time TV than BYU. Even USU made it on ESPN/ESPN 2 five times this year.
Heck, look at CSU. Lost two games in conference this year and at least they are playing a P5 team with a regional connection, rather than some "American" (or whatever conference it is school) who is just buying time for basketball season every year across the country. Meanwhile, Boise is bringing in some dough for all of us.
If your end goal truly is an NC (ha sorry, not that's it not admirable just laughable right now) or even a New Year's Six game, the Playoff committee and Bowl chairs are going to look at how you finish and evolve through-out the year, rather than just your overall resume. For example: look at Ohio State/Boise. Both lost early but finished the year strong and were rewarded for it. If in November every year you are playing Middle Tennessee's and Savannah States, that is not going to do a lot for your resume.
As a secondary Coug fan, I'm definitely pulling for them to wind up in a conference.