Every team goes through hard times. Nobody can win consistently over the long haul. A good conference keeps you from falling too low. Independendance has no floor when you don’t win.
Utah can stink it up and can suffer a bad coach and bounce back when they find a good one.
Football will die over the long haul unless we get in a P5 (not happening) or join the up and coming AAC. MWC would work for b-ball, but will not save football.