comparisons of the Big 12 vs. the ACC all season. There will be inevitable discussions as to what is closer, the top G5s to the ACC and the Big Big 12, or the latter two to the P2 conferences.

Part of that are potential long-term ramifications if the gaps increase. Then you have the G5 conferences scrambling for their Champ to get into the CFP, you have Big 12 and ACC vying for the #3 vs. the #4 seed, and trying to add a 2nd school to the CFP.

Conference perception matters.

In that light, the strategy for conferences is to look as strong as possible.

Almost everyone in the Big 12, especially those who follow CFB closely or who are playing or coaching on the field, loves what Utah brings to the table. Utah will be one of the hotter tickets and one of the most commonly featured in the Big 12.

No one cares what a few Twitter or online message forums think about a particular school. It's grossly overstated and won't find its way to the field. Sorry.