Ben Anderson: Free of Big 12 expansion, BYU can enjoy life outside microscope


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PROVO — Last year, BYU spring football signaled the beginning of what, at the time, felt like its true audition to be a candidate for Big 12 expansion.

Kalani Sitake and Ty Detmer had been hired to take the Cougars to new heights in the absence of Bronco Mendenhall. Taysom Hill and Jamaal Williams were returning to form one of the most dynamic backfields in BYU history, and Big 12 officials had communicated they were, once again, trying to address the issue of conference expansion.

David Boren, the president of the University of Oklahoma who famously said the conference was “psychologically disadvantaged,” had set a summer deadline for the Big 12 to expand, and this time it felt real.

There was guaranteed money if the conference were to add two or four teams. The conference could disperse the finances however it felt necessary, potentially making its existing candidates some of the richest teams in college football.

Teams from lower-level conferences, including BYU as an independent, saw the opportunity to graduate their athletic departments to the major leagues of college sports, with a windfall of cash coming swiftly behind it.

At times it was exciting. At times it was excruciating. And it was always stressful.

Big 12 expansion overtook BYU on both the macro and micro levels. The Cougars' long-term existence seemed to depend on the goings-on at the school during each waking hour.

Both the fans and the athletic departments of teams in the running sought out any edge their school could have to push themselves over the top as a candidate.

Whether it was stadium size, television market exposure, past championships or recent success, no detail was skipped to tilt the scale in the direction of a specific school.

That included BYU.

Fans of the school highlighted the program’s national fan base, 60,000-seat stadium, past football award winners, success against the Big 12’s best, and 1984 championship. There was no question: If the conference were to expand, BYU was an ideal candidate.

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Those in the running against BYU noted the school's conservative standards and strict no-Sunday play as strikes against the Cougars as a candidate.

Ultimately, the Big 12 renegotiated its existing media rights deal with ESPN and Fox, and remained at 10 teams.

While BYU had to enjoy the national exposure, as it was often thought of as the favorite to join the Big 12, the spotlight can also weigh heavily on a program.

With a few notable exceptions, namely Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and USC, few schools operate under constant scrutiny with major success. The spotlight often serves as a microscope, magnifying any minor issue into a major national story. It’s not an easy way to exist.

The Iowa State student government voted against BYU’s candidacy for expansion due to “policies and practices (that) are inconsistent with the values of the Big 12 Conference.”

It wasn’t just BYU’s off-the-field practices that came under close examination. Suddenly, every game felt like the deciding factor on whether a team would or wouldn’t make the cut for the Big 12.

Houston seemed like a no-brainer for expansion, opening its season with a victory over Oklahoma. Before a stunning midseason loss to Navy, Houston seemed like a favorite to make the college football playoff and to be invited to join the more prestigious conference.

Meanwhile, BYU’s 1-3 start allowed its critics to believe the Cougars weren’t as competitive as other expansion candidates.

Today, none of it matters.

With expansion no longer on the table for BYU, fans and the program alike can focus on the development of their team.

While going undefeated and reaching the college football playoff will always be BYU’s ultimate goal, failing to go undefeated won’t be treated as a negative talking point against expansion.

The Cougars begin their schedule with a murderer's-row of opponents, hosting LSU, rival Utah and Wisconsin in the season’s first four weeks. This season, realistic expectations can be set and, more importantly, accepted, as their impact stretches no further than the Cougars' record at the end of the season.

Perhaps more importantly, fear of religious persecution doesn’t have to infiltrate a casual college football game.

BYU will have its share of difficulties this season. Replacing superstars like Hill and Williams will create a unique challenge for the coaches as they try to build a winner on the field. The Cougars' schedule will be trying, both during its strongest stretches and its weakest. But, with no further-reaching questions about conference expansion, the difficulties will stay on the field.

The Cougars would have welcomed an invite into the Big 12, and would again throw their hat in the ring of candidates if a Power 5 conference were to explore expansion options. However, with conference alignment appearing set, BYU fans and the program should enjoy this season, no longer under a microscope.


![Ben Anderson](http://img.ksl.com/slc/2556/255612/25561254\.jpg?filter=ksl/65x65)
About the Author: Ben Anderson ------------------------------

Ben Anderson is a sports contributor for KSL.com. Follow him on Twitter @BenKFAN.

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