First, I will acknowledge that I am an Aggie from Ogden with a degree in Animal Husbandry. But I want to express a semi-outsider's point of view on BYU Football.

Independence is not working and it isn't going to get better. BYU has not finished ranked in the AP in 9 years (8 in independence) that is the longest streak of finishing unranked since '77 (the 1st time BYU was ranked). The struggles vs rivals are well known. Without getting into the weeds, BYU football has taken a step down since going independent.

Part of this is Utah's step up to the PAC-12 and a portion could be put on the fact that USU is no longer a doormat. The ascension of these two programs means that quality recruits are not solely going to BYU. And honestly, I don't see Utah leaving the PAC-12 or the PAC-12 dissolving soon. The success of USU is still to be seen and while I don't expect a Boise State level of success from them long term, I do expect a mid-level MW team for the foreseeable future. So these challenges are not likely to disappear easily.

What these means for BYU, in my opinion, is that the goals need to be adjusted. In one direction or the other. Either step up or step aside. What I mean by step up is something that people call for here a lot. Make BYU a top competitor with little to no restrictions. Get rid of the Honor Code (at least for players), no LDS Coach Rule, pay top dollar for all coaches and assistants, etc. Accept that to play like a top P5, you have to pay like a top P5. That may mean the church/university invests a very large amount of money until BYU joins a P5 conference that starts picking up the slack. I don't believe the church should pay that type of money into BYU, but that isn't my decision. But BYU either has to do what ever it takes to be a top P5, not just a P5, or accept where its at.

That means stepping aside, either to the MW or AAC. Accept that BYU, in its glory days, was in the G5 equivalent conference. Go and be great in that conference. Boise State has built their brand like BYU did in the 80's. Beat all the middle guys and then steal a big game when it matters. That is how TCU and Utah got into P5, Boise probably would have too if their school was better. BYU will probably always have politics as a hurdle, but those politics aren't likely to be as big of a hurdle in the MW or AAC. I understand that going to the MW with USU is basically kneeling before Utah and saying "You've won." But going to a G5 conference does not mean that P5 is gone forever. It simply means that the schedules lighten up for now and the opportunity to win your way back into a P5 is back on the table, without significant financial investment. Its all about being good at the right time.

However, being in the middle of the road is not good for BYU football. It will continue to get worse as the schedules get harder. This will continue to change the view recruits have of BYU. These kids were 8 years old the last time BYU finished ranked in the AP top 25 and 6 years old the last time BYU won their conference. Something has to change. Either an investment and system of rule changes or a compromise and continuation of what has worked.

For what it is worth, I think BYU would significantly add value to the MW or AAC when they go to negotiate with ESPN, etc. The deals with BYU will be better than without.

edit: I don't have a strong opinion of which way BYU should go. Simply that they need to do one or the other.