maintaining current status and position. Oregon and UW would not die as programs but they have a lot to lose. They could be forced to go to the Big 12 — but have to battle resistance from academics and state politics trying to keep WSU and OSU in the mix — or to add teams to a weakened P10. Maybe they beg their way into the BIG but take such a massive pay cut to do it, they're at a huge disadvantage.

Utah doesn't have that issue. If the P10 stays together, Utes will likely remain one of the top 3-4 power programs. If the P10 folds or is markedly inferior to the Big 12, they take a pay increase and jump where they will almost immediately be seen as a top 3-4 program. Likely be in the top 2-3 in terms of current recruiting rankings.

Utah would be the top choice for those reasons. An immediate contender at the top. Easy to work with. Natural geographic fit. Smooth transition to the new conference without the headwinds O and UW would face. But a markedly superior product compared to the rest of the Pac-12 (outside O and UW). Probably the top performing program in all of the west during the CFP era.

Outside that, Utes are one of only 2-3 schools packing the house each week and finding themselves in big games every year with TV ratings that are now 2-3 greater than the other 3 corner schools.