Big 12 Football: 4 programs that would benefit by joining the conference

3. BYU Cougars (Independent)

One of the most often discussed potential expansion candidates for the Big 12 when that conversation was heating up was the BYU Cougars. It’s not the most outlandish geographical addition that the Big 12 could make to bring BYU into the mix. They already have the likes of the Iowa State Cyclones and West Virginia in the mix.

If the Big 12 could pair BYU with another school they add to the conference like one of the Colorado schools, or hypothetically someone like the Boise State Broncos, they would be a great addition. BYU brings a very solid traditional football program to the table for an Independent school, and a versatile athletic program overall.

Even in the modern day, BYU still has a lot of potency and some star power behind the likes of rising junior quarterback Zach Wilson. Although he’s not likely to turn into a quarterback the level of Texas A&M’s Heisman winner Johnny Manziel or Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield, Wilson is a skilled dual-threat signal caller that could get a lot better with the Cougs.

If BYU could get into either the PAC-12 or the Big 12, they should jump at the opportunity. Being an Independent school is going to be especially tough for the BYU football program this year, as they’ll have to fill out their schedule somehow. Putting in the structure and national recognition that comes along with being a part of a Power Five conference would be huge for BYU.