So the premise you’re arguing, is that Utah adds no validity or prestige to the current big 12.

Correct? The same brand perception as a Utah State.

So by that standard, Utah has to be markedly behind or inferior to all of these so-called superior brands.

Instead, what you’re seeing is that some years Utah teams with comparable records are higher, other years ranked lower.

Just like Baylor 2019. Behind Utah at one point, ahead of Utah at another.

The same. Comparable. But comparable to the better brands.

Yet, at some point, doing your research, you also acknowledge in your own way, that Utah is consistently performing at the top end of the current Big 12 over a longer period.

Ranked in the top 30 almost every year. Peaking at number 12. Median of 23.

Or a median of 16 if you include Utah already in the 2022 top 10 preseason.

I don’t see other big 12 teams doing that consistently. Maybe 1 or 2.

Even then, it looks like UU will be ahead of almost every current big 12 team in the next preseason poll. So how is that an inferior brand to the current 12?

(Utah would be the highest ranked team lol.)

And I see a cumulative record up there of something like 56-25.

So there is some consistency as well.

How many schools in the big 12 have a better record over 5-6 seasons? More consistent top 30 rankings?

Maybe you find one or two schools. But if Utes are consistently the top three or four, every year, that would be adding validity and prestige.

Top end of the conference. I think everyone else can see that