The recent Big Ten expansion, bringing in West Coast powerhouses like USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington, has thrown a curveball into the travel game for all the teams in 2025. Imagine racking up serious air miles just to play conference games. It’s a new ball game, with teams crisscrossing the country, facing time zone changes, and the sheer fatigue that comes with being on the road. But according to the ESPN journalist, it’s about time to stop whining about it, especially in the NIL era.

Unsurprisingly, the new West Coast additions are the teams feeling this the most. For example, Oregon lives out of a suitcase, leading the pack in miles traveled in the Big Ten with a whopping 15,000+ miles planned for the season. Their most extended haul is a trek to Rutgers, about half a country away.

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