There are several of them, including just the fact that you care about what happens in 5-10 other football games every weekend. But playing for a conference title matters to players and coaches, having 8 or 9 regular opponents allows a coach to do more work outside of preparation for a game (including recruiting, scouting, glad-handing donors, etc.). I think Mandel's main point is that it's nice for BYU in September, but it's meaningless in October and November. That wouldn't be true in a conference. September would still have some good OOC opponents, and then October and November you guys would care about the conference race (just like you did in the WAC and MWC, but think you're too good to do now).

And Mandel is 100% correct on one point: BYU has essentially no access to a NY6 game right now. Say that playing @UW or @Michigan or @Tennessee is the same as much as you want, it isn't and you know it isn't. Recruits pay attention to that stuff, as do donors and the media.