Does that make sense?

Oregon was popular for years before they were a powerhouse. Although the uniform effect can't be discounted, a large part of their popularity was the exciting brand of football they played. They wouldn't take their foot off their opponent's throat, even when they were winning late. People watched Oregon football because they knew that - win or lose - they were going to get a show.

The same argument could be made for Texas Tech (during the Mike Leach era). They're a smaller, less significant Big 12 school, but when Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree were playing (and Leach was coaching), they generated a ton of buzz because they were fun to watch - even when they lost.

BYU football is not fun to watch. They just aren't. Close games against mediocre teams, bad coaching decisions (icing the kicker, settling for field goals, etc.). Compared to many of the P5 programs, BYU football just seems like amateur hour.