Overview

• In Big Ten play this season, teams traveling three time zones are 4-2, a notable shift from last year’s 5-11 mark for visitors in such games, according to the Associated Press.
• Coaches have tied logistics to performance, with Penn State’s James Franklin referencing the West Coast trip after losing at UCLA and USC’s Lincoln Riley noting the swing from a late-night kickoff to an early start the next week.
• Nebraska’s Matt Rhule acknowledged travel as a factor yet said his team won’t complain, and Michigan is departing Thursday for USC after Sherrone Moore cited dehydration and recovery challenges from long flights.
• ESPN’s Kris Budden criticized coaches for blaming travel in the NIL era, pointing to charter flights and pro-level accommodations as reasons excuses should not hold.
• West Coast additions face heavy mileage—Oregon’s season plan is about 16,744 miles—as the league stages four three-time-zone matchups this week: Rutgers at Washington, UCLA at Michigan State, Indiana at Oregon, and Michigan at USC.