One way BYU’s move to the Big 12 will likely affect the Pac-12

Utah Utes defensive gamers Brandon McKinney (28) and Hayden Furey (54) attempt to get to BYU Cougars quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) as BYU and Utah play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021. BYU received 26-17, ending a nine-game dropping streak to the Utes.

Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information

BYU’s transfer to the Massive 12 Convention is notable for a lot of causes, however actually one in every of them is how the transfer might have an effect on its rivalry with Utah sooner or later, particularly because it pertains to soccer.

Nicely, it might really have an effect on Utah’s whole convention, the Pac-12, in a big manner on the gridiron.

In a narrative on Tuesday, Pac-12 insider Jon Wilner outlined how BYU has 15 video games at present scheduled with Pac-12 groups, and cancelling them (BYU will nearly actually need to cancel a bunch to make room for a convention schedule) will harm the convention’s schedule energy.

“Internally, BYU transferring to the Massive 12 presents us with vital scheduling points,” Wilner quotes Pac-12 senior affiliate commissioner and chief of soccer operations Merton Hanks as saying.

Wilner noticed that all the sport contracts had been signed earlier than BYU joined the Massive 12, and most, if not all, ought to have a clause that permits BYU to get out of the sport if it’s in a convention.

“The Cougars are a perfect opponent for Pac-12 packages due to their proximity, the standard of the competitors and their capacity to promote tickets in opposing stadiums,” Wilner wrote.

“In some methods, they've performed the function of a convention member, all whereas wanting — however being denied — entry into the league.”