West Virginia has found this out the hard way. They have no connection to anyone in the B12 other than the fact that they are a member. All of their historic rivals are in the ACC (Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Miami, etc). Connections to other programs have value, whether positive or contentious. BYU has connections to both Boise State (Independence) & San Diego State (WAC/MWC), so joining the AAC with those two programs would be much healthier for BYU's program.