SANDY — Seven years ago, instead of standing by idly as its athletic rival metaphorically hit the lottery, the BYU administration boldly decided to forsake the comforts of a conference to become an independent in football.

At the time, only weeks after Utah got the invitation to join the Pacific 12 Conference, leaving the Mountain West to follow in the path of Notre Dame was absolutely the correct move. With an ESPN contract in hand, BYU was set to earn more money and gain substantially increased exposure as an independent compared to staying put.

What was then a no-brainer has now run its course.

As soon as possible, BYU needs to get the football program back in a conference. If no Power 5 conference comes calling, then — for now — the Mountain West will suffice.

Heresy, you say? Not anymore.

BYU is going nowhere as an independent, stuck between the two designations known as the Power 5 and Group of 5. The only assurance is the Cougars don’t compete for a conference championship.

Financially, until or if a Power 5 conference extends an invitation, BYU likely will remain better off as an independent compared to joining a G-5 conference. Competitively, however, the football program would be better served joining a conference — which, in this case, is the Mountain West.

Since going independent, BYU has pushed the mantra of having the ability to play any team anywhere across the country. It sounded good at the time, scheduling the big-names in faraway and tradition-rich locations.

But, really, BYU had no other choice but to push that anywhere, anytime agenda. Highlight only the positives and benefits.

The Big 12 did the same in a sense after the latest round of expansion left the conference with only 10 teams. With only 10 teams in its conference, the Big 12 promoted its round-robin, one true champion theory — until it got left out of the four-team national playoff and got NCAA approval to play a championship game.

BYU is better suited to playing a schedule that continues to include the P-5 teams upfront and then followed by a chance to reset during a conference season. Until the program proves good enough to come out of each September undefeated, the knock against being an independent is the team doesn’t play for much over the last two months.

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BYU notes: Quarterback job up in the air as Cougars prepare for Boise State

After BYU was forced to go with its third-string quarterback in a 40-24 loss to Utah State, who will line up under center Friday night against Boise State? It could be complicated.

Look no further than the first month of the last two seasons, during which the Cougars went into October a combined 3-7. Even two years ago, when they started with two thrilling wins over Nebraska and Boise State, the Cougars lost the next two games to take the luster of having a special season.

Belonging to a conference provides hope for any teams that may struggle early on. The perfect example came in 1991 when BYU opened the season with losses to Florida State, UCLA and Penn State but went on to win the Western Athletic Conference.

Playing for a conference championship matters.

“I really do wish somebody would understand that at BYU,” former BYU offensive coordinator Norm Chow said in an interview with 97.5-FM and 1280-AM The Zone.

Already a disappointing 1-4 with one of the worst offenses in program history, BYU is reduced to trying to get bowl eligible, which would require finishing the regular-season at 7-6. With Boise State and Mississippi State the next two opponents, a prolonged losing streak is possible.

If any season needed a reset, it is this one.

“A lot of teams are 1-3, 1-4, with still a lot to play for,” Chow said. “These guys now, especially with these next two coming up, if they aren’t successful in those two the season is meaningless.”

Given its long history with several of the programs, BYU is best suited to rejoin the Mountain West. As part of the conference, BYU would restore longtime rivalries and boost the November schedules.

Future schedules already have the Cougars playing several MWC teams, anyway.

“If you have something to play for there’s always an excitement at the end of the year,” Chow said.

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