I think there is more to it then that. BYU took advantage of a lucrative ESPN contact by going independent. I would say they generally play a stronger schedule as well, especially the last couple of years, although it was weak at first.

Whether they are better off in football could be debated, but they are unquestionably worse off in every other sport.

I believe their schedule is much more difficult than when they were in a conference, not so much because of the strength of their opponents, but because they have to travel longer distances, experience less sleep and play in unfamiliar circumstances in their road games. They'll play a Saturday game, and turn around and play Friday in Florida. If you don't think travel wears you out some, you haven't traveled.

Playing a schedule that consists largely of conference opponents who are geographically near, with conference refs, in familiar territory, I believe is easier on student athletes. I think being independent has contributed to 1-2 extra losses per year for the football team.

Furthermore, being in a conference helps give meaning to a season, even if you lose a game. Currently, if they lose one game, it almost doesn't matter whether they win the rest or lose 4 more, because they'll go to the same bowl regardless. (Granted, if they lost only one to a quality opponent, they still might have a shot at a major bowl.) Being in a conference would have helped give meaning to the season last year after the Utah State loss. Obviously, they'll still try to win every game though. But maybe the pinnacle of their season wouldn't be winning a very mediocre Cal team.

Being independent contributes nothing to their national exposure. Nobody cares about BYU, unless they're ranked, except Utah fans, BYU fans, and whoever their opponent is that week. Every week there are dozens of football games you can watch. I'm telling you, just because BYU is playing on ESPN doesn't mean a random Joe is going to be more interested than I would be if it was North Texas playing.

I also don't think that being independent has helped them get into a P5 conference. Their best shot was the Big 12 this year, and they have shown no interest whatsoever despite having two teams miss out on the playoffs.

The real question is where they will be when their ESPN contact runs out. I am not saying the security blanket of the MWC was all it was cracked up to be, but I think they might have had more success, and thus found an easier path to a P5 conference.

But to say I'm just stupid for my opinion, which granted - could be right or wrong, displays quite a shallow understanding of the issue.