I don't think they're screwed, and I don't think they need to join a conference. If they go undefeated, I think their SOS will be tough enough to get an at-large bid to one of the Access Bowls, which would be better than they ever did in the MWC during the BCS era. And they've got plenty of exposure, thanks to their ESPN contract. And they've got decent bowl tie-ins if they fail to qualify for one of the Playoff/Access bowls. They just need to keep scheduling games against Pac 12 teams like Washington, Wazzou, Oregon State, and Utah, plus regular games against teams like Notre Dame and Texas, and Boise St, San Diego St, Central Florida, etc. They don't need ACC or SEC games to have a good schedule, especially if they could get additional Big 12 opponents (KSU, OSU, BAY) more regularly.
2013 schedule
8/31 @ Virginia (2-10) L
9/7 vs. Texas (8-5) W
9/21 vs. Utah (5-7) L
9/27 vs. Middle Tennessee State (8-5) W
10/4 @ Utah State (9-5) W
10/12 vs. Georgia Tech (7-6) W
10/19 @ Houston (8-5) W
10/25 vs. Boise State (8-5) W
11/9 @ Wisconsin (9-4) L
11/16 vs. Idaho State (non-IA) W
11/23 @ Notre Dame (9-4) L
11/30 @ Nevada (4-8) W
12/27 vs. Washington (9-4) L
2012 schedule
8/30 vs. Washington State (3-9) W
9/8 vs. Weber State (non-IA) W
9/15 @ Utah (5-7) L
9/20 @ Boise State (11-2) L
9/28 vs. Hawaii (3-9) W
10/5 vs. Utah State (11-2) W
10/13 vs. Oregon State (9-4) L
10/20 @ Notre Dame (12-1) L
10/27 @ Georgia Tech (7-7) W
11/10 vs. Idaho (1-11) W
11/17 @ San Jose State (11-2) L
11/24 @ New Mexico State (1-11) W
12/20 vs. San Diego State (9-4) W
2011 schedule
9/3 @ Mississippi (2-10) W
9/10 @ Texas (8-5) L
9/17 vs. Utah (8-5) L
9/23 vs. Central Florida (5-7) W
9/30 vs. Utah State (7-6) W
10/8 vs. San Jose State (5-7) W
10/15 @ Oregon State (3-9) W
10/22 vs. Idaho State (non-IA) W
10/28 vs. Texas Christian (11-2) L
11/12 vs. Idaho (2-10) W
11/19 vs. New Mexico State (4-9) W
12/3 @ Hawaii (6-7) W
12/30 vs. Tulsa (8-5) W