FORT WORTH, Texas -- With BYU reportedly on the verge of bolting from the Mountain West Conference and declaring its football independence, TCU coach Gary Patterson bid the Cougars good luck and offered a warning Wednesday.

"If you're BYU, you better be careful what you wish for," Patterson said. "It's not my job to worry about what Utah does, what BYU does, but I can tell you this: If you think being an independent is an easier way to get to a national championship, you're kidding yourself."