The Impact of Multi-Time-Zone Travel on Big Ten Teams
With the 2025 college football season in full swing, one of the most intriguing storylines is how multi-time-zone travel will affect Big Ten teams. As we head into Week 5, several key matchups feature schools traveling across two or more time zones for their road games. This challenge has become a significant factor in the conference’s performance, and it’s worth examining the trends and implications.
Key Matchups in Week 5
One of the most notable games this week is No. 21 USC traveling to No. 9 Illinois. The Trojans, who played at 11 p.m. ET against Michigan State in Week 4, will face off against Illinois at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday. Another major matchup is No. 1 Ohio State taking on Washington at 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS. UCLA will also be on the road against Northwestern at the same time, while No. 6 Oregon faces No. 2 Penn State in a highly anticipated game at 7:30 p.m. on NBC.
These games are part of a broader trend that has emerged since Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington joined the Big Ten in 2024. The addition of these schools has led to an increase in multi-time-zone travel for Big Ten teams. Over the last two seasons, Big Ten teams have struggled when traveling two time zones or more, posting a 10-19 record straight up and 10-19 against the spread. This trend raises concerns for the road teams this weekend.
Adjustments by Coaches
To mitigate the challenges of long-distance travel, some coaches have made strategic adjustments. Ohio State coach Ryan Day mentioned that his team will leave on Thursday to acclimate to the new environment. “We’re going to keep everything else the same, a little bit like when we were in the playoffs,” Day said. “Just sort of that mindset of going into a new environment, sort of getting calibrated, and then going to play from there.”
USC coach Lincoln Riley also expressed concerns about the scheduling of games. “Going from the absolute latest kick in the country to the earliest kick has its challenges,” Riley said. “But the challenges, it is what it is. We don’t make the schedule. Clearly.”
Historical Performance Against West Coast Opponents
Big Ten teams have historically had trouble against the former Pac-12 schools on the West Coast. Since 2024, those schools are 3-11 straight up when traveling to those former Pac-12 schools. This includes a 1-3 record for ranked teams. For example, No. 10 Michigan lost at Washington, and No. 2 Ohio State and No. 24 Illinois lost at Oregon. The only victory came from No. 4 Penn State, which beat USC in an overtime thriller.
Additionally, Purdue lost to Oregon State in non-conference play last season, and Minnesota fell to Cal on Sept. 13 this season. These results highlight the difficulties that Big Ten teams face when traveling to the West Coast.
ATS Records and Trends
Looking at the point spreads, the road teams have had mixed success. The Buckeyes were 14-point favorites at Washington this week, but the line has dropped as much as six points. In the 14 games involving multi-time-zone travel on the West Coast since last season, the road team is 5-9 ATS with a 2-3 ATS record as a favorite.
Here are some of the key results:
- Sept. 14, 2024: Indiana 42, UCLA 14 (IU -3)
- Sept. 21, 2024: Washington 24, Northwestern 5 (WASH -11.5)
- Sept. 28, 2024: No. 13 USC 38, Wisconsin 21 (USC -14.5)
- Oct. 4, 2024: No. 6 Oregon 31, Michigan State 10 (ORE -23.5)
- Oct. 5, 2024: Washington 27, No. 10 Michigan 17 (WASH -1.5)
Road Records of New Big Ten Members
The travel challenges extend beyond the traditional Big Ten schools. Oregon, UCLA, USC, and Washington have also had to deal with multi-time-zone travel. Since 2024, these schools combined for a 7-8 record in those games against Big Ten opponents, with a 5-10 record ATS.
Oregon has been the most successful, going 4-0 in two-time zone games but only 2-2 ATS. USC, on the other hand, has struggled, posting a 1-3 record in those games and 0-4 ATS. UCLA has shown some resilience, with a 2-1 record in such situations. Washington, however, has not fared well, going 0-4 in those games.
Future Implications for the Big Ten Playoffs
The impact of multi-time-zone travel could be critical in determining the Big Ten playoff race. A similar outcome to the Oct. 12, 2024, game between Oregon and Ohio State, where Oregon upset the Buckeyes, could occur again. This game kept the Buckeyes out of the Big Ten championship game, and a similar result could affect the standings again.
Other key games to watch after Week 5 include:
- Oct. 4: No. 3 Penn State at UCLA
- Oct. 11: No. 11 Indiana at No. 6 Oregon
- Oct. 11: No. 18 Michigan at No. 21 USC
- Oct. 18: Washington at No. 18 Michigan
- Oct. 25: No. 25 Illinois at Washington
- Nov. 1: No. 21 USC at Nebraska
- Nov. 8: No. 6 Oregon at Iowa
As the season progresses, the effects of multi-time-zone travel will continue to shape the Big Ten landscape, influencing both team performances and playoff aspirations.
