Part of the recruiting is their greater exposure, but I would think that player development is also huge. Since 2008,
Utah has had 30+ players drafted in the NFL.
BYU has had 11- I think.
Look at Chase Hansen- everybody mocked Whit for switching him from QB to defense. Is it possible that Hansen could have gone on to be an NFL QB? Sure. But there is little doubt that he'll be playing linebacker or safety somewhere in the NFL next year.