While independence had / has its issues (bowl tie-ins), one issue it didn't have was taking us to one or more cool locales each season. Not every season in independence was a winner, but a number of BYU regular seasons ended up with one or more match-ups as good as a typical bowl game. People are amazed we "travel" so well, but: (i) BYU fans living in those locations are dying to see their Cougs, especially locations like the West Coast w/higher LDS populations, and (ii) we've had a rotation of one or more cool away games each season to truly travel to. 2021 alone: Vegas opener, @USC, @Baylor, @WSU, etc. Throw in the Big House, Camp Randall, @Michigan State, @Ole Miss, and it's been a good ride.

I don't expect we'll still "travel" as well when our away games are in Waco, Stillwater, Manhattan, KS, Morgantown, etc. on a regular rotation. Even arguably more interesting locations like Kansas for basketball, Orlando or Cincinnati every other year may get a bit old to repeatedly visit.

I like BigXII football and its tradition more than the Pac12. And while the BigXII definitely is a closer cultural fit, it's not where the BYU fanbase currently lives, nor where I'd say most are dying to go visit year after year. A drop off in our away game numbers may be in the cards, especially if we struggle for our first few years in-conference.