AAC is not a realistic possibility due to travel expenses for Olympic sports. Would you commit to playing annual games against New Mexico, Wyoming, and Nevada-Reno for the next 35 years instead of getting H/H series with the likes of Michigan State, ASU, Stanford, USC, Minnesota, Mizzou, Baylor, Oregon, Arkansas, and Tennessee?
In any year where BYU is good enough to have a shot at a National Championship, by running the table with our future schedules, we'll be in a NY6 or playoff game as an independent. Playing the bottom feeders of the MWC and padding our W/L record doesn't make us a better team even if it gives us better W/L records. It actually acts against the interests of BYU. IF we somehow get into a NY6 or playoff game because we beat a weak MWC schedule, it validates every P5 conference fan that says there is a legitimate talent gap between the P5 and G5 when we get pulverized when we actually play a tough school in a big bowl game.
BYU should earn the way to the big boy games like Alabama, Auburn, LSU, tOSU, etc. Beat the best teams in the country to earn a shot to play for the Natty. Sliding in the back door because we're the best of the rest crap doesn't do BYU any favors long term.