I seriously doubt that. BYU would most likely have stayed in the MWC if the MWC became a "Power" conference overnight with the addition of decent BigXII teams, a re-negotiated TV deal and an automatic BCS-bid. I mean, those ideas were already in the works and picking up steam before the conference re-alignment gutted the MWC. BYU took off after the MWC collapsed.
KSU, KU, ISU, & Baylor would not make that a power conference. Even if given that designation it wouldn't matter because the BCS was still going to die in favor of a playoff within a couple years. That MWC is a second tier conference needing an undefeated season to get in the playoff ahead of a multiple loss power conf champ. Independent or not... that's irrelevant.
I disagree. Assuming Baylor, TCU and Kansas State would have continued their success on the football field AND assuming ISU, KSU, KU had continued their success on the basketball court, I have no doubt that the MWC would've been labeled a "Power" conference, especially with the dissolution of the BigXII.
Also, even after the dissolution of the BCS, I think that the alternate-timeline MWC would seed a team at the "Final Four," especially if the MWC had a conference championship. Just look at TCU, a former MWC team, now sitting atop the playoff rankings and Baylor who beat that same TCU team.
Now just talking about football: The only thing that would shoot a hole through my hypothetical scenario, is if the recruiting at Baylor and KSU would have suffered and resulted in crappy teams being fielded (I don't mention TCU because they were formerly in the MWC, recruited well and had great post-season wins). IMO, I don't think that recruiting at Baylor and KSU would suffer because Baylor has an open door to Texas recruits and KSU seems to only recruit 5-heart transfers/JUCO's and walk-ons. I don't think ISU or KU would suffer because... its ISU and KU, they're already suffering.
