And results on the field have nothing to do with it.

College football today is a huge business and programs are measured by success on the field and in the bank account.

BYU football is so much bigger than the rest of its potential counterparts in the MWC. I may seem arrogant in this view, but financially it is so true. BYU has fans across the west and around the country. BYU has enough fan support across the country that ESPN gave BYU its own lucrative TV deal. BYU fills a 65,000 seat stadium on a regular basis. USU, Wyoming, AF, CSU, and NM can't even come close to filling their tiny stadiums. Nobody outside of their respective cities (especially USU) and states cares on bit about their programs.

As an independent BYU is making much more money, is playing some really high quality games, and I actually get to see the games on TV every week. I'll trade a few games with Middle Tennessee and Idaho State to have also have games like Wisconsin, USC, Notre Dame, Texas, Virginia Tech, etc. on the schedule.

For those fans that call the season after one loss because BYU is no longer in the running for a national championship, I'm calling you out as fair weather fans. Sure it would be nice to have a conference title to still go after but I live for all of BYU games. If your litmus test for being excited by BYU football is having a chance at the NC, then I invite you pick the AP #1 team as your new favorite team each week.