Offers simply aren't made until an agreement has been reached and there is an understanding that the offer will be promptly accepted. That way, all parties can avoid PR black eyes.

BYU was 100% in the running for a Big XII spot, and instead of being easy to work with and doing everything in their power to help the deal go through, they played hard to get. At the time, I think they thought that the independence thing would work out better – that BYU would become a Notre Dame-lite, would earn lots more money, and would be viewed as a P5 school. They overplayed their hand.