BCS payout for UNLV

When Utah qualified in 2004 for a Bowl Championship Series game, the other Mountain West Conferences, including UNLV, each received about $1 million.

This time? It’s expected to be at least $600,000.

The reason is a change in the distribution formula. Only the Mountain West received BCS revenue in 2004 when Utah made and won the Fiesta Bowl. Now all non-BCS conferences share in the revenue, even if no outside league sends a team. The dollar figure increases if a team makes a BCS game, with the conference the school represents receiving the most money. UNLV will receive about an extra $500,000 thanks to Utah’s appearance in the Sugar Bowl, where it upset Alabama 31-17 on Friday.

When wondering why the conference has been hesitant to add a school such as Boise State, remember the financial impact.