This is part of The O'Colly's series on the four new members of the Big 12 Conference.
Thirteen years ago, BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe announced the university was leaving the Mountain West Conference for the open waters of independence in football and the West Coast Conference in Olympic sports.
BYU’s rival Utah left the MWC for more promising ventures in the Pac 12, and the BYU-MWC relationship was already shaky. After disputes over TV rights and limited exposure, which Holmoe said was hurting the Cougars’ brand, BYU announced it was going independent on Aug.