There has to be a plan B if independence fails, otherwise it would have been completely foolhardy to pursue it. For a while, when the WAC was still in tact, that would have been and acceptable plan B. It did not seem to be bad for Boise State to be in the same conference as Fresno State, Nevada and Hawaii. And, they will be again. But it is doubtful, should BYU's independence fail, that they could go back on their hands and knees to the MWC, the same people that said, "don't let the door hit your but on the way out."
There are five options that I can think of if BYU's plans for independence crash and burn.
1. Join the WAC. Of course, the WAC is not what it used to be, but even a weakened BYU program could provide a building block for a better future.
2. Rebuild the Big West Football Conference. Perhaps BYU's reputation won't be soiled enough with a failed independence to help bring football back to Long Beach State, CS Fullerton, UC Santa Barbara or Pacific. Of course, this would still be a better option if UC Davis and Cal Poly moved up to the FCS, if Hawaii put all of their sports in the Big West and if Utah State and Idaho joined the fray as well.
3. Conference USA or Sun Belt may be interested in the Cougars if they had to join a conference again.
4. Start a new conference. This would be a better option if TCU decides that the Big East isn't working for them. BYU/TCU could bring in some other schools, such as Boise State and Air Force and perhaps break the BCS ceiling.
5. Downgrade to the FCS. Of course, that would represent a total failure of independence.
How to tell if Independence is failing?
-ESPN forces BYU to schedule games on Tuesday/Wednesday or drops them altogether.
-Continued scheduling of creme puffs late in the season.
-More than 2 FCS teams appear on the schedule.
-Drops in ticket sales at LaVell Edwards.
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