1) Ranking disparity. Even when we play well it doesn't move the needle in the rankings. Sometimes BYU should've jumped in the ranks after a big win and actually fell. Conferences vote for their conference mates to keep their own relevant. Sports writers do the same. Someone brought up the BCS model saying it fixes this, but it doesn't, it still uses rankings to tabulate and the reason G5 teams have made it to NY6 bowl games is their conference mates boosting them in the rankings.

2) Refs. Sorry, but if you think PAC 12 or any other refs are going to call a game without any bias you're wrong. So many things that can just get brushed under the rug (holding, PI, etc). Italked happened in all three of our losses this year. Nobody to advocate for an independent.

3) fan/recruit Interest level in program. Butts in seats matter. It's tough to care about football or a team when your season is over by the 3rd game every year. We're not getting it done. It's no fun not playing for nothing.

4) scheduling. Anyone notice how the Utes schedule has favored them in a big way the past few years (lots of favorable home games to set themselves up for conference play where they're ranked and so are most of their conference mates)? There's a real advantage when being in a conference here


Let's face it, the cards are very stacked against us as an independent and it's a losing battle with a downward trajectory.