This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Imagining what's inside the mind of a BYU fan, I would conclude that this must be a tough way to live.

Utah followers know they will have brand-name football schools coming to Rice-Eccles Stadium every season, with Pac-12 membership giving their team reasonable access to New Year's 6 games and even the College Football Playoff, while having conference standings determine what makes a successful season.

That's part of the problem. What makes it all seem so unfair to BYU fans is the Utes never had to agonize this much about expansion. Utah happily competed in the Mountain West with BYU and other schools, with hardly any anticipation or expectation among fans about what might be coming next. Nobody even knew that athletic director Chris Hill once visited Larry Scott, who became commissioner of the former Pac-10 less than a year before the Utes were invited to join the conference.

The only buildup and resulting angst about Utah's possible selection came during about a two-day period in June 2010 when Scott's pursuit of multiple Big 12 schools became public and threatened to squeeze out the Utes in the expansion process. But then Texas stayed and kept that league mostly intact, and the next thing anybody knew, Utah was being welcomed in the Pac-12 with roses and balloons.

Compare that timetable with BYU's five years of independence. Fans have waited almost that entire time for any hint of Big 12 expansion beyond 10 schools, eagerly grasping any rumor. This time, there could be some substance to the rumblings. The conference commissioned a study of metrics that determined a 12-team football league playing eight conference games has a mathematically better chance of qualifying for the Playoff. Some observers now believe Big 12 expansion is inevitable, and commissioner Bob Bowlsby wants the issue to be addressed, one way or another.

"I think we've got to get down the path and make decisions this summer," he told the Dallas Morning News. "These are long-lasting decisions and it's important we get it right."

Big 12 presidents will meet May 31, and a vote could come sometime later. The biggest barrier to BYU's mobility is the simple fact that a conference has to expand to create an opening. The issue then would become whether or not BYU is chosen, which is where it gets interesting.

From strictly a football perspective, BYU is the obvious No. 1 choice for the Big 12. Nobody else comes close. The Cougars have strong tradition, a 64,000-seat stadium and a built-in following that drives attendance at their games around the country. The other likely contenders — Cincinnati, Memphis, Central Florida, UConn and Houston — would love to trade football programs with BYU, never mind the BYU-Memphis Miami Beach Brawl outcome of 2014.

Geographically, Cincinnati is tough to beat, being close to West Virginia. The Bearcats have enough attractive qualities that I'll concede them one spot in the Big 12. BYU is worthy of the other invitation, assuming that 12 is the number.

As for other roadblocks, divisional alignment mitigates some of the long trips to Provo. Sunday play in various sports should not be a deal-breaker; the West Coast Conference has accommodated BYU that way. BYU's Honor Code issues that have been brought to light undoubtedly would cause concern among Big 12 administrators. That subject can't be easily dismissed, but the school is addressing it.

BYU's independence has its merits. Athletic director Tom Holmoe's football schedules have exceeded what I thought he could do, creating some fun matchups. The biggest problems remain getting big-name teams to come to Provo (as will happen more frequently in the next decade) and balancing the schedule with decent opponents in November. The 2016 schedule is ridiculously front-loaded, threatening to ruin coach Kalani Sitake's first season before he even gets going.

Once the Cougars joined the Big 12, they would need time to become consistently competitive at that level, modeling the process Utah has gone through over five seasons. The Utes have arrived to the extent that they always should be in the conversation in the Pac-12 South.

BYU fans, meanwhile, are tired of just talking about the Big 12. Action regarding expansion should be coming soon, one way or another. That's good. This summer, those people deserve to get an answer, even if they may not like it.

Twitter: @tribkurt