PAC alliance or Big12 invite?

First off I think either situation is unlikely. But I don't think the PAC will ever take BYU as a full member or even football only.



If you're TH would you take a deal with the PAC to get 5 games vs the PAC every year (including a yearly meeting of BYU and Utah in November) and entrance into the PAC bowl games or a Big12 football only invite?



I'd still rather have long term contracts with the same teams year after year with 3-5 PAC schools (I'd go for Utah, UCLA, Arizona, UW, and Cal), but a rotating deal with the entire PAC would be great.



I think a PAC deal is better. But then I like independence.

I like the football only deal. I think BYU enjoys their association with the other religious institutions of the WCC.

I'd prefer NOT to have an annual November gaome with Utah, but keep the PAC 12 scheduling alliance as otherwise proposed (I.e. I eally like our arraingement with the WCC)

Big 12 is a P5 conference, so that would be hard to pass up. The problem with the Big 12 when compared to the PAC 12 is that BYU's fan and alumni footprint fit so much more nicely into the PAC 12. California. Check! Arizona. Check! Northwest. Check!



BYU does have a solid contingency in Texas (40% of the Big 12's footprint), but the numbers in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Iowa are comparatively slim.



If BYU could get 4-5 games against the PAC 12, including October and November games, and access to PAC 12 bowls (Holiday, Las Vegas, BWW in Arizona and Fight Hunger in Bay Area) that would be WAY better IMO. Win-win. BYU stays independent, but takes care of its biggest two headaches - late season scheduling and bowl affiliation. The PAC 12 gets to involve BYU's brand and fan base without having to give out full membership.



IMO, this would be the ideal schedule template:



SEPTEMBER

PAC 12 kickoff

MWC (Hawaii, Fresno, SDSU, SJSU, UNLV, AFA, Colorado St.)

Big Ten (Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan, Penn St.)

Big 12 (Texas/TCU)



OCTOBER

PAC 12 Cali (or Utah) - Thursday or Friday before General Conference

Boise St./Utah St.

MAC/C-USA/Sun Belt (Payday, 1-and-done)

AAC (UCF, USF, Cincy, UConn, Houston, SMU, East Carolina)



NOVEMBER

PAC 12

Notre Dame or ACC (to fill in late season schedule holes created by ACC-Notre Dame)

MWC or AAC

Utah or PAC 12 Cali



PAC 12 (x4), MWC (x2-3), AAC (x2-3), Big Ten (x1), Big 12 (x1), Notre Dame/ACC (x1), Other G5 (x1).



With the one-and-done payday for the MAC/C-USA/Sun Belt, BYU could afford to throw in some neutral site games as part of H-H-N deals with the Big Ten, Notre Dame, or other elite P5 teams.

Another idea to help the PAC 12, Big 12, and BYU in their bowl situations:



PAC 12 is set to play the MWC three times, in Christmas Bowl (Los Angeles), Las Vegas Bowl, and New Mexico Bowl. I have to think the PAC 12 would like to improve on that New Mexico Bowl bid. It's the third game against the MWC and in a less attractive location.



Meanwhile, the Big 12 has the Heart of Dallas bowl which is shared with the Big Ten against a Conference-USA opponent.



BYU should propose the idea that the Christmas Bowl and Heart of Dallas Bowl will be shared by the PAC 12, Big 12, Big Ten, and BYU. The New Mexico bowl could shift to MWC v. C-USA and the MWC would just be kicked out of the Christmas Bowl.



In this arrangement, BYU could have occasional access to bowls in Los Angeles and Dallas against a PAC 12, Big 12, or Big Ten opponent (BYU included in like 1 of 4 years for each bowl). Mix in the Poinsettia Bowl and Miami Beach Bowl and BYU's bowl scenario is much more interesting and could potentially change during the season, depending on performance.

I like that idea. It could lead a greater alliance that could include the Holiday bowl and others.