BYU has long been owed bigger slice of pie

It would be in the Mountain West Conference's own self-interest to give BYU a bigger slice of the TV revenue pie. Because, without the Cougars, the pie is going to get a lot smaller.

(As this is being written, we're still waiting to hear if BYU goes independent or stays in the MWC.)

This is not a discussion of who has the best football team. Clearly, TCU had the best team in the MWC last season, and Boise State beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl.

This is a discussion of what teams are the most valuable — the most marketable — when it comes to TV.

Neither Boise State nor TCU has the TV clout of BYU. Neither could go independent and command millions of dollars from ESPN. Which BYU can. For a wide range of games.

One local radio host stated that ESPN would not be interested in BYU-San Diego State. Really? Not only has ESPN/ABC telecast that game on multiple occasions, but ESPN2 telecast BYU-Tulane 111/2 months ago. And it sure wasn't because of Tulane's huge fan base.