It ain't over yet: Utah to the Pac-12?

So reading over at Block U, the Utah SB site, it seems that they're getting word that they've let the Mountain West aware of their intentions to accept a Pac-10 invitation to round out the conference at 12 teams in the wake of Texas' refusal.

I hate to think of the damage this does to the Mountain West's ability to get that coveted BCS auto-bid.  Swapping Boise State for Utah is essentially a wash on the field in terms of recent results, but in terms of momentum at the top of the conference and overall winning percentage, even with Utah the Mountain West wasn't a SURE thing to get the bid.  Now, without Utah, the Mountain West has no real shot at an auto-bid unless both Boise State and TCU have undefeated, national championship winning years in the last part of the cycle (and even then, they'd still be weighed down by the bottom of the conference).

 

I realize this doesn't effect Georgia football directly, but it is a shame on a different level.  I was enjoying watching these industrious mid-majors attempt to get their shot at a spot at the big-boy table.  Utah and TCU seem like really good programs to me, and Boise State is obviously a great developing regional power right now.  BYU's history and future possibility on further adds to the mystique of a league that could have been.

 

Ce la vie.