Kansas Will Travel Least Miles in Big 12 This Year

Bookies.com recently crunched the numbers on travel logistics and found that the Kansas Jayhawks will rack up the shortest road-tripping season in the Big 12 for 2025.

Their total travel distance clocks in at just 5,956.68 miles spread across five road games.

In a conference spanning nearly coast to coast, that kind of advantage is significant. While BYU and Kansas State are making multiple long-distance journeys, BYU tops the list with over 13,500 miles, nearly three times Kansas’ total. The Jayhawks benefit from their geographical location and scheduling.

This lighter travel burden could translate into fresher legs during Big 12 matchups. For a program looking to build consistency under Lance Leipold, avoiding brutal midweek flights or crossing multiple time zones might help eliminate fatigue-based slip-ups. The Big 12’s expanded footprint has increased travel strain for most teams, yet Kansas appears to have a relative edge in that regard.

That said, travel and on-field performance don’t always correlate. Kansas was picked ninth in the USA TODAY Big 12 preseason poll, and its season will still feature tough away environments, including trips to UCF, Texas Tech, Arizona, and Iowa State. Those venues offer geography-type challenges that go beyond mere mileage.

But teams like KU will argue this could be a subtle edge come late November. Fewer accumulated hours in transit, less jet lag, and more routine could mean one less disadvantage heading into crunch time.

It’s not as sexy as a breakout player or an explosive scheme, but staying grounded matters. For the Jayhawks, the shortest travel schedule in the Big 12 isn’t flashy, but it’s a reality. And in a league where separation can happen in November, staying a few steps ahead could make a difference.