The introduction of four West Coast teams to the Big Ten Conference will mean more travel for everyone in the now 18-team league.
Just how much of a factor that is remains to be seen. With players able to study, sleep, or do film review on the plane, just how much difference is there between a four-hour and one-hour flight? We’re way past the era of traveling to games via train. So in the end, probably not much.
IU coach Curt Cignetti shrugged off the idea that Indiana’s week three trip to UCLA would present any special challenges for his team.
“On away games I like to leave as late as possible, get into the hotel as late as possible,” Cignetti said at Big Ten Media Days. “I like for them (the players) to be able to go to class, have a team meeting, have our walk-through, give them a snack, get on the plane, get to the hotel, eat, meeting, bed. It’s not a big deal.”
But if there is an advantage for less travel out on the margin, Indiana is in the best position in the Big Ten to capitalize on it.
According to Bookies.com, IU will travel the least of any team in the conference this year — they’ll cross eight time zones while traveling 4,895 miles this fall. With just four road games, that’s an average of 1,224 miles per trip. Obviously the trip out to California accounts for most of that distance. Indiana’s other three road games are relatively short trips to Columbus, Ohio; East Lansing, Mich.; and Evanston, Ill.
Already benefitting from the dismantling of the divisional structure, this is just one more factor that might help Cignetti get off to a fast start in year one as head coach.
Because most of the Big Ten teams reside in the Eastern or Central time zones, UCLA, USC, Washington and Oregon will be doing most of the traveling in all sports.
We know you’ve been waiting for this one…
“Maps” is here and it’s beautiful. #B1GWelcome pic.twitter.com/vPfVeEdonn
— Big Ten Conference (@bigten) August 2, 2024
Here’s a summary sent to The Daily Hoosier of the football travel for each team during the 2024 campaign:
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