How Big Ten Travel Travel Is Impacting Oregon Ducks, Dan Lanning

The Ducks lead the Big Ten in most miles traveled this season with 8,128. The top four teams that will travel the most in 2025 are the four former Pac-12 programs.

Following the four newcomers in mileage are East Coast programs, such as Rutgers and Maryland. The schools located in the Midwest seemingly have an advantage when it comes to travel, falling at the bottom of the list.

The Ducks are set to travel to Rutgers and Penn State, as well as Iowa, Northwestern and Washington in 2025.

Ahead of Oregon’s week 3 trip to Illinois to face the Wildcats, Ducks coach Dan Lanning revealed his routine during long trips.

“Yeah, have a book. Read a little bit of a book. Do a little bit of film review,” Lanning said. “Look at some scripts for walk-through some game day prep, like, as far as coaches meeting, what that looks like, you know, decisions that are usually getting made on Thursday night anyway, just not necessarily on a plane.”

While the team as a whole will spend a lot of time flying, which could create a disadvantage in terms of fatigue or less prep time, a concern that many across the country had about conference realignment included how fans will travel. Schools on both the West Coast and the East Coast require fans to travel further when they’re away, which can create more of a homefield advantage for the host team.

Full List in Miles:

• Oregon: 8,128

• UCLA: 7,606

• USC: 7,306

• Washington: 7,023

• Rutgers: 5,230

• Michigan: 4,241

• Maryland: 4,224

• Minnesota: 4,113

• Penn State: 3,829

• Nebraska: 3,790

• Michigan State: 3,777

• Northwestern: 3,719

• Indiana: 3,472

• Wisconsin: 3,195

• Ohio State: 3,033

• Iowa: 2,943

• Purdue: 2,736

• Illinois: 2,735

Oregon With Uneven Prep Time

Another challenge for the Ducks this season is the unequal prep time the squad has between games compared to their opponents.

Almost every game this season, including the upcoming Northwestern game, the opposing team has a day or more to focus on Oregon than the Ducks have to focus on the opponent.

“There’s seven games where our opponent has more time to prep or equal to us,” Lanning said ahead of the trip to play the Wildcats. “But they always have additional time.”

When asked what his thoughts were on how the Big Ten can make things more equitable, Lanning stayed discreet.

“It’s a good question for the conference,” Lanning said. “It’s been communicated on our end.”

Lanning and his players have said throughout fall camp and the start of the season that they’re No. 1 focus is on what they can do better as a team.

“We're focused on us. Don't pay attention to the outside noise,” Lanning said about how he makes sure they don’t overlook Northwestern. “It wasn't around the summer. It shows up now. It doesn't mean anything now.”