BYU got a great deal in their three-game series against Virginia.
Over the weekend, BYU and Virginia amended their future football series that is now three games in 2021, 2023 and 2025, and two of those are at Provo. These details were a bit surprising as Bronco Mendenhall did not want to play his former team, but the series will be played, and with that added game. Mendenall’s contract is a five-year deal and the first game is six seasons away, so there is the possibility he does not step on the sidelines of LaVell Edwards stadium to coach against BYU.
Getting an extra home game is great for the Cougars, but the deal gets even better with the details of the contract are released. FBSchedules.com obtained the contract info:
— BYU and Virginia will meet in Provo on Oct. 30, 2021. No guarantee will be paid to the Cavaliers, and there is a $1 million penalty for canceling the game.
— BYU and Virginia will meet in Charlottesville on Sept. 9, 2023. The Cougars will receive a $450,000 guarantee, and there is a $1 million penalty for canceling the game.
— BYU and Virginia will meet in Provo on Nov. 1, 2025. No guarantee will be paid to the Cavaliers, and there is a $1 million penalty for canceling the game.
— Virginia will pay BYU a payment of $250,000 for changes to the original contract and original amendment by July 15, 2016.
This is a great deal for BYU who will get a two-for-one against a Power Five school, will not have to pay a dime for either game — they do have to be played, of course — and get a cool $700,000.
This deal that appears to favor BYU could come via the buyout that was in place in Mendenhall’s contract, because it is fairly common for buyouts to include games to play the school that lost its coach and usually very favorable. Due to BYU being a private school it is not known what Mendenhall’s buyout included but one can make an educated guess that his buyout had something to do with this favorable deal the Cougars received.
The only question left about this series if all three games get played, because even the first game is six years away.
