If the AAC can pull in Boise State (Full Member) by grabbing Air Force and Colorado State (as Full Members), it would make much more sense long-term rather than adding Boise (Football-only), San Diego State (Football-only) and Colorado State (Football-only). I'm sorry, but San Diego State Football does not move the needle enough to warrant creating a coast-to-coast conference, much less creating another island geographic-wise. At least by "building a bridge" to Boise State (in Colorado State/Air Force), you are getting access to a substantial media market (Denver) and getting a national brand (in Air Force). Colorado State and Air Force are very much tied at the hip and will not go anywhere without the other. Those two can be utilized as travel partners with Boise, to help a little bit with travel, IMO.

With those three, you are now up to 14 full members with two service academies. If you then wanted to make the push to 16, then you could look at BYU and Army as football-only members. That is the play I would go for if I were the AAC.