While Utah does have a research institution... that's like saying See's Candy is a food establishment. Utah set themselves up just right for the opportunity to be there... they weren't the hottest non-BCS team at that time, that would have gone to TCU and Boise State... but Utah was firmly 3rd behind them.

Had the PAC not taken Colorado... which they did so in believing that Texas and OU were coming... Utah is still in the MWC. The PAC had to do something after taking Colorado, they did what they had to do... and it's been a win for Utah. I take my hat off to Utah for doing it... again, I wish BYU had the guts and Brains to do what Utah did.