...academically even embarrassing to West Virginia and that's embarrassing in and of itself. As for Nebraska, i think the fan base would be with you one-hundred percent, but the President would not. Nebraska is not an "elite" academic institution, but is well suited to the 200 academic club that is typical of much of the B12 not named Oklahoma or Texas. But its ranked over twice as high as West Virginia. But Boise State is way down in the 610 range and simply not PAC or B12 material from a president's standpoint.

Much to my consternation the PAC will never allow a private religious school into its ranks. The B12 may never agree to scheduling around Sunday for BYU. Maybe it will. If not, BYU will forever be outside looking in. OK so you accept what you cannot change, work with that reality and move on as a major Independent.

The P5 Conference Commissioners ALL recognize BYU as a P5 equal. It's some members of the media, especially those under the age of 40 that have this misconception that BYU and East Carolina or Florida International are similar athletic programs. ESPN knows differently. I think the president of BYU and AD put together a formal charter that declares BYU a P5 equal as an athletic department regardless of its nature as a sponsored private university. Signing that charter should be all five of the P5 conference commissioners. Why would they sign that?

1) It would codify what they (P5 Conferences) have already publicly stated and recognized.

2) BYU would have a fairly cut and dry legal case for inclusion should it file an anti-trust lawsuit against their collusion to exclude.

3) It benefits ESPN exactly the same way that NBC is benefited by Notre Dame.

NBC is not otherwise connected to college sports outside Notre Dame, but it keeps NBC in the loop and could result in a decision to compete for more games in that arena in the future. Now ESPN isn't dropping off the map, but it clearly likes its relationship w/BYU as a programming partner. So ESPN would be the organization that would facilitate the peace in the middle east so-to-speak, showing that including BYU more formally would be beneficial to everyone in the P5 group in many ways (inclusive, proof that a program is included based on numbers and commitment, not just geography of historic inclusion).

4) ESPN that pays the freight and signs the media rights checks so it should be at the forefront an ambassador of getting that done.

We can see this year there has been a very distinct promotion of BYU within the ESPN ranks. I believe this is in part because BYU stepped up and provided badly needed games (thus programming content) when it could easily have just canned its season. ESPN has clearly responded to both BYU's decision to play and the high quality of BYU's performances. I think if ESPN is consistently referring to BYU as a P5 equal, then FOX, SI, the Athletic, and a variety of other "media" will stop thinking of BYU in the same way they think of Boise State or Fresno State.

Last thing. Programs like Boise State, if not most of the MWC and AAC, are in my opinion not a whole heck of a lot below the majority of P5 programs either. i think they get a really raw deal and are treated poorly. But BYU has to look out for itself first and it should be considered a major program in all media, just not some of it. BYU's facilities, stadium size, fan base and commitment to as many sports as it sponsors are clear indications that it's fits into the upper half of the P5 level of programs.