could and all of the sources outside of BYU point to BYU being hesitant, demanding too much, or preferring independence. Fortunately for BYU negotiations were not public and no formal invite was given so BYU could give the we weren't invited excuse. It would look really bad to come out and say we overplayed our hand and the Big 12 looked elsewhere. Yes the Big 12 was on shaky ground. BYU should have looked at that as an opportunity instead of it being a potential problem. The big 12 needed help and was willing to look past geography, sunday play, and all the other nuances BYU brings to bring in a decent market and program. From what I gathered BYU wanted assurances that the cool kids would stay (Texas and OU) and guarantees on TV appearances and BYU TV rights,. I understand BYU's reasoning for this. They had been burned before by the MWC and the Mountain and they just got the new Indy contract and were liking the WCC relationship. But this was the opportunity BYU had been waiting for for a long time. The opportunity was created because of the instability of the Big 12 but they saw the risk as too big. Which I really don't understand because even if the BIG 12 fell apart in a couple of years BYU would be much more valuable as a former Big 12 member going Indy then they were as a MWC member going Indy and the WCC would always take BYU back.

It was also obvious playing an Indy schedule that is front loaded and road heavy with non P5 recruits, money, and resources was going to take a toll on BYU. Sadly it has.

A few more tidbits - I don't think it was Holmoes decision on the Big 12 - if it were up to him I think we would be in.
BYU needed 2 things when it went Indy - a special season and to beat Utah the majority of times. If Taysom didn't get hurt in 2014 that could have been a special season. BYU has had some chances to beat the yewts but keep coming up short - His knee was down, boinked field goal, 2 point conversion with Taysom, Tanner and the offense spotting them 35 points in the bowl game.