was their way to "get one up on BYU and put them in Utah's shadow." The PAC 12 implosion was brutal for the school and their fans; especially when they realized that not only was BYU going to be on equal footing but Utah would be forced to go back to the same conference as BYU. They fear being in BYU's shadow and playing second fiddle to BYU more than anything else.
The Big XII (and not being able to run it) has been a massive blow to their collective psyche so they start acting like the losers they are.
Other PAC 12 refugees were grateful for the lifeline and had no illusions of grandeur from Rose Bowl losses.