... though I don't think that their motivation is purely about more $$$ as Indy. That's surely part of the calculus, but there are the other issues:

1) lots of invested leg work and contracts for Football series agreements that likely have an "out clause" for BYU only if we are invited to a P5 conference. There could be a massive financial obligation to get out of all those games plus the loss of any goodwill acquired by making those agreements.

2) Exposure via ESPN deal: Not only do we get more $$$ right now than any G5 school (Boise is 2nd I think via their special deal) but we have more games on national TV than any G5 program and than most P5 programs and our fan base loves this. Don't EVER forget the dark days of the the mnt or CSTV or whatever ...

3) Keeping options open: Being Indy allows us the most flexibility to explore all options if and when the dominoes start falling again in the arena of conference realignment.

4) Optics: Leaving a G5 conference for Indy was a big sea-change move by BYU and was/is viewed by most fans as a step up, and by almost no one as a step down from being part of a weakened MWC. Ending right back in the MWC with Football too could only be viewed and spun as Indy being a failed experiment and BYU being the object of scorn. Going to the ACC might be viewed more as a lateral move, but still would be spun by many as us not being about to make Indy work.

Money is a big part of the decision, as it should be, but our AAC vs MWC vs continued Indy is a much much bigger decision than a few million per year for the ESPN contract payout.