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5 ways the Raiders’ move to Las Vegas will impact college football

By Zach Bigalke

Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of the 25th Las Vegas Bowl logo at midfield at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; A general view of the 25th Las Vegas Bowl logo at midfield at Sam Boyd Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) and teammates hold the championship trophy during the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl against the Wyoming Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. BYU defeated Wyoming 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 21, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Brigham Young Cougars running back Jamaal Williams (21) and teammates hold the championship trophy during the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl against the Wyoming Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium. BYU defeated Wyoming 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

5. The effect on a denominational Independent

As a former Mormon outpost, Las Vegas has always had an interesting allure for fans of the BYU Cougars. From Provo, Vegas is just five hours away down the I-15. As a result, the Las Vegas Bowl has featured BYU more times than any other team in its history.

Even if the bowl game shifts its allegiances and freezes out the Cougars, the new venue down the road could finally allow the team to gain the stature it hoped when it left the Mountain West for independence in 2011.

Major-conference teams have been loathe to play BYU in Provo. But they could more readily be drawn to neutral-site games in Vegas. Even if this results in home-and-neutral series against schools, the increased exposure can only benefit the Cougars in recruiting and in future scheduling.

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The boost to schedule strength would position BYU more firmly in relation to other independents like Notre Dame. And were the Cougars to run their schedule, it would force the College Football Playoff’s hand in judging conference affiliation in its metrics.

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