BYU books Notre Dame in Las Vegas next year
Updated September 5, 2021 - 5:52 am

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Gunner Cruz scrambles past Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Keenan Pili (41) in the second quarter of a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) celebrates in front of Arizona Wildcats cornerback Malik Hausman (23) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat players take the field before the start of a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Cade Hoke (36) takes the field with his teammates before the start of a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat cheerleaders perform in the second quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat wide receiver Stanley Berryhill III (1) breaks a big run past Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Payton Wilgar (49) in the second quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats players try and fire up their team in the fourth quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tayvian Cunningham (11) leaps over Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Isaac Matua (37) while returning a kick in the third quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young players take the field before the start of a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats defensive lineman Trevon Mason (90) celebrates a safety in the fourth quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) breaks free for a second quarter touchdown past Arizona Wildcats cornerback Malik Hausman (23) during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats fans cheer for their team in the fourth quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Keanu Hill (1) breaks free from Arizona Wildcats safety Jaxen Turner (21) in the second quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Hayden Livingston (28) celebrates with Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Ammon Hannemann (22) after intercepting a pass in the fourth quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) celebrates after scoring in the second quarter during a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Gunner Cruz (9) calls an audible at the line in the third quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier (25) sprints towards the sideline past Arizona Wildcats linebacker Victor Zayas (46) in the third quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats linebacker Rashie Hodge Jr. (35) tries to fire up his team in the fourth quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Hayden Livingston (28) pulls in an interception over Arizona Wildcats wide receiver BJ Casteel (5) in the fourth quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

BYU fans cheer for the Cougars in the first quarter during a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat wide receiver Stanley Berryhill III (1) tip toes down the sideline in the fourth quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

University of Arizona students watch their team take on BYU in the fourth quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tayvian Cunningham (11) is stacked up by BYU defenders in the third quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

BYU fans cheer for the Cougars in the first quarter during a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats tight end Alex Lines (88) collides with Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Hayden Livingston (28) and Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Chaz Ah You (3) in the fourth quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat cheerleaders perform in the first quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Gunner Cruz (9) scrambles past Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Payton Wilgar (49) in the third quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats quarterback Gunner Cruz (9) is tackled by Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Chaz Ah You (3) in the second quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat cheerleaders perform in the first quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver BJ Casteel (5) makes a catch over Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Kaleb Hayes (18) and Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Malik Moore (12) in the first quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

BYU fans cheer for the Cougars in the first quarter during a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars tight end Dallin Holker (32) has his pass broken up by Arizona Wildcats cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace (4) in the third quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

The BYU marching band performs in the first quarter during a college football game against the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Brigham Young Cougars running back Lopini Katoa (4) is tackled by Arizona Wildcats safety Jaydin Young (3) in the first quarter during a college football game on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto

Arizona Wildcat cheerleaders perform in the first quarter during a college football game against the BYU Cougars on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021, at Allegiant Stadium, in Las Vegas. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
The news Saturday that Brigham Young will play Notre Dame at Allegiant Stadium next year was just another building block between the Cougars and Las Vegas.
When the Las Vegas Bowl faced serious questions about its future in 2005, Brigham Young came to its rescue.
The game invited the 6-5 Cougars over 10-1 Mountain West champion Texas Christian because it needed the attendance boost to stay in the NCAA’s bowl-certification good graces — and drew a crowd of 40,053 to Sam Boyd Stadium for its first sellout.
BYU appeared in the next three Las Vegas Bowls, with each game selling out. The attendance of 44,615 in 2006 was the largest to watch a college football game in Nevada history.
Until Saturday night. That is when the Cougars’ game against Arizona at Allegiant Stadium, a 24-16 BYU victory, blew past that figure with an announced crowd of 54,541.
That attendance record likely will fall again in October 2022 when the Cougars play Notre Dame as part of the Shamrock Series.
“We love the city,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “We love that we have a fan base that’s nearby. A lot of people here have connections, whether they’re from the city or have family that’s here. We’ll come here as much as they will have us.”
BYU’s game against Notre Dame next season hasn’t been announced, but a source with knowledge of the discussions confirmed it will take place. The game is expected to be played Oct. 8 or Oct. 29.
The Irish hosted the Cougars in 2012 and 2013 as part of a three-year agreement that this game in Las Vegas completes.
BYU is playing a big part in the growth of neutral-site games at Allegiant Stadium. The Cougars’ presence there Saturday night was a result of their relationship with the Las Vegas Bowl, which in addition to the early four-year run, gave BYU a landing spot in 2015 against Utah, working out a deal with the Mountain West to vacate its spot in the game.
The relationship between BYU and Las Vegas is mutually beneficial. Provo, Utah, where BYU is located, is within driving distance of Southern Nevada, and Las Vegas has a large Mormon population. Both parties know if the Cougars show up, so will plenty of fans.
That includes next season’s game against Notre Dame, where the ticket demand will be high on both sides. Though Arizona brought a respectable number of fans Saturday, the volume of cheers and sea of blue in the stands made it more of a home game for BYU, which accounted for about 80 percent of the crowd.
By the time BYU’s game against the Fighting Irish kicks off, the Cougars could be in the Big 12. They are among four schools reportedly targeted for expansion. Because BYU is an independent in football, that should ease the transition if invited.
BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe did not respond to requests for comment.
“I haven’t even thought about it,” Sitake said Friday of joining the Big 12. “That’s an administrative question.”
Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.