If I'm a recruit, and I'm trying to decide between a PAC12 Utah and my favorite team growing up BYU, and I'm a bit torn because I like BYU, but Utah is in a better conference, then it becomes a bit easier to say no to Utah if BYU is playing a national, quasi-P5 type of schedule than if they are playing a MWC schedule. We already get Boise and Utah State. So we'd have to switch out about 2 P5 type opponents with low-end MWC opponents. Every little bit helps.

Also, how about the fans? Clearly you and many others would still pay to see the MWC schedule. But the general sentiment still seems to favor the Independent schedule. Would it still be worth the switch to you if attendance dropped another 10-20%? I know that many here will say I'm not a true fan, but I can guarantee that I'm not the only person who would quit buying season tickets if we traded 2 P5 teams with 2 MWC teams.

If we were still paying 2010 ticket prices, then I would absolutely keep buying season tickets if we went back to the MWC. But my price has increased about 600% ($300 for a pair to $1800) since the last time we were in the MWC. And they keep going up. I'm not going to pay $2000 next year to lose Wisconsin and gain San Jose State.