NFL
By: Brock Vierra
Now this might seem outrageous for a program that just clinched their first winning season in a decade but UNLV football is on the rise and in college football, you’re either a forward thinker or you get left behind. There is no reason UNLV should not be preparing for a move to the Power 4 and the Big 12 is a perfect home for the future powerhouse.
Right now, UNLV remains a loyal member of the Mountain West conference. It makes sense for the program as it affords them the opportunity to play regional opponents that match their skill level. However, UNLV has made massive strides over the past six years in recruiting, coaching, and in the development of its facilities. UNLV is also the main collegiate brand in a city that just hosted a Super Bowl and is becoming one of the fastest-growing metropolises in the world.
Why UNLV should make the move to the Big 12
What does that last sentence have to do with college football? Easy. Location is everything and as of right now, Las Vegas has all eyes on them. That means brand investment, potential TV deals, and perhaps a new home for the Big 12 title game should Cowboy Stadium lose the contract. That could also mean a massive increase in the NIL budget by the casinos if national cameras are constantly on the program and on the city.
Also, that means a population boom which leads to more students in the classroom and thus better athletes on the field at the high school level.
UNLV needs to be in a better position to properly recruit these excellent players. Players such as DeMarco Murray, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Will Hernandez have come out of the 702 in recent years and none of them attended UNLV. That needs to change. Playing in the big leagues helps with that.
From a financial perspective, the Big 12 has a solid network deal with Fox and ESPN. Signed in 2022, the deal was for six years, ending after the 2031 season. That deal grosses 2.2 billion over the lifetime of the contract and UNLV would be entitled to a cut. Right now, each team makes approximately 23.75 million per year from the deal alone. UNLV’s potential inclusion would put the Rebels’ take at about 22.3 million. That number of course would increase after a new deal is signed.
As of right now, the Mountain West has the best tv deal out of the group of five conference. The numbers however aren’t close. UNLV makes around 4 million dollars a year through the deal. A far cry from the potential of the Big 12.
Geographically, it would’ve never made sense for the Rebels to play in the Big 12. However in recent years, that narrative has changed. There are six programs in the Big 12 that are within a 14 hour drive radius from UNLV. Those programs include Texas Tech and Colorado along with bordering Utah, BYU, Arizona and Arizona State. Outside of maybe one in conference long distance trip, the schedule would shake out very similarly to what the Rebels have been accustomed to in the Mountain West.
The best part is that the move shouldn’t interfere with the Rebels non-conference schedule. Being a member of a bigger conference means there would be no need to play a team like Michigan for a check. That means UNLV could keep important rivalries alive as in the case of Nevada and Hawaii while still scheduling their annual non-FBS opponent.
The future is now and the future is clear. UNLV is growing beyond the Mountain West and the Big 12 is the perfect conference geographically, financially and competitively for the program. It’s time to step into the new and strike while the iron is hot.
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