I think you nailed it the admin was too lazy. BYU schedule year one was ok, year 2 was good. year 3 and on is amazing a little too ambitious if you ask me.
Hawaii could make at least 6 million as an independent. My guess would be more. Hawaii could get a very similiar deal to BYU. You would get paid for games instead of a set amount. BYU in the islands would be 1.5 million for that game alone. Pac12, Penn st 1.5 million. get 4 teams like that and then just balance the schedule. Will it be work yes, but that is the AD job.