football rather than play G5 and become a basketball flagship program alone?

Does BYU keep the program going because they feel like even though it can't compete for a NC we still enjoy the exposure and what it offers students and alumni?

Hypothetical- I don't know what I would want. My knee jerk reaction is to say if we can't compete (just compete) for a NC than I don't think I'd be really pumped year in and out to cheer, go to games, buy merchandise. Right now I fully realize that in basketball we have a 2% chance of making it to the NC every year. But it gives me a sense of hope. Right now with football I have that same false sense of hope but I can rationalize that we are in the race, that we have a chance. At some point things will become crystal clear, BYU will either be in contention for a NC when the year starts just like Indiana or Colorado is every year or we will be like Boise St, Wyoming, and UCF- playing for NY6 at best.