BYU football was just fine when we were outside of the system in the WAC and MWC. Sure, we complained about unfair treatment, but pretty much all of BYU's historic games, players, and accolades have occurred as a have-not.
I'm not proposing a move anytime in the foreseeable future, but why wouldn't a move to the MWC or AAC be an acceptable alternative to completing dropping the football program?