Just getting up to speed. Very interesting developments indeed. A few thoughts:

1) Regardless of whether Boise State and the AAC choose to enter into some form of marriage, it is very important for both sides to have these discussions. If a program, or conference, is not in the P5, then it needs to continue to hold conversations about ways to improve their perceptions and develop their programs (i.e. football) to best position themselves for a seat at the table. Good on both parties to at least have informal (or official, now) talks about some type of union.

2) If the present holdup for Boise State coming into the AAC is whether or not they are a full member, the AAC should invite them as a full-member yesterday. The value of Boise State Football alone negates the extra travel for Olympic sports and/or adding another non-football member to compliment them. Adding Boise State Football not only impacts the MWC in a negative way, but it also establishes a pathway where the AAC is clearly in a higher pecking order than the MWC. This would allow for the AAC to potentially acquire other MWC programs over time, creating the fabled "West Division" that never got enough momentum to materialize. That alone is worth Boise State as a full member, IMO.

3) For Boise State, my concern for them would be the same concern/path that UConn took. A school would essentially sacrifice their athletic department in the name of greater good for football, which may or may not work. Like UConn, Boise State would continue to have a fall back in the MWC, whether or not MWC fans would like that or not (the MWC would not ban Boise State from returning, if given the opportunity IMO, especially since Boise State has proven it can provide value to a TV deal). UConn struggled mightily being an outlier, which is what Boise State would be. Could Boise State still recruit the way it does? If Boise State has a losing season, would fans still show up? Will Boise State fans still travel to Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Tennessee regularly? What if Boise State has a multi-season rebuild at some point? (I'm sure the athletic department has answered these questions already, but would be interesting to see the support behind these answers).

For basketball, Boise State would be a quality addition. They have had eight 20-win seasons under Leon Rice, two tournament appearances and solid attendance in a 12k arena.

The intent for the AAC, IMO, would be to get Boise State in full, with long-term plans to eventually get San Diego State and Colorado State as well. These moves could bridge the gap towards bringing in Army (which clearly needs bowl tie-ins), Air Force and BYU to create a true, national tweener conference. That would put all of the non-P5 value under one conference, with a little bit better travel with multiple teams in different areas.