BYU athletic director says Cougars will take risks that come with independence

BYU signs football deal with ESPN

PROVO, Utah — BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe says the Cougars’ move to independence in football has plenty of risks and he hopes even bigger rewards.

Holmoe gave some details Wednesday about BYU’s athletic future. While football will play without a conference, other sports are joining the West Coast Conference starting next year.

By leaving the Mountain West Conference, BYU was able to negotiate its own broadcast rights for football. BYU announced that the school has an eight-year deal with ESPN to televise the Cougars on one of the network’s channels.

BYU said it has also agreed to a six-game deal with fellow independent Notre Dame. Holmoe says the two schools are still working out the details.