all of the teams in the western division actually being in the west - not the midwest or east.

There are some decent enough programs and / or markets in the west.

WESTERN DIVISION

Boise State
San Diego State
New Mexico
UNLV
Nevada
Utah State
Air Force
Colorado State

EASTERN DIVISION - mostly who cares which ones and with totally optional cross over games not counting towards division championships.

Army
Navy
Houston
SMU
Memphis
Cincinnati
UCF
USF


7 divisional conference games leaving 5 games for optional cross division games not affecting the divisional standings and non conference games. BYU would remain an Independent, but would have a scheduling agreement to play all of the western division teams and represent the west in the conference championship game and playoffs and bowls as appropriate if BYU has more division wins than any division member.

That gives BYU 8 regular season games and freedom to schedule 4 P5 games at the beginning of the season. BYU would retain broadcast rights to all of the west division games, but pay west division teams handsomely for playing us.

ESPN has BYU on TV every week.

Something like that. Basketball would sure be fun. We could play home and away with west teams and play east teams once per year alternating home and away.

Maybe this could become a P6.