USC Football: How USC's Future Big 10 Opponent is Preparing For Their Trips to The West Coast

The USC Trojans' move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten is undoubtedly a significant and controversial decision that has garnered mixed reactions. While some may not be in favor of the shift, it is believed to be beneficial for all parties involved. However, challenges such a transition, particularly regarding the extensive travel that both USC ae Big Ten teams will now face.

One of the primary concerns is the distance between the West Coast and the East Coast/Midwest, making travel logistics a daunting task. USC will have to embark on long journeys for away games, and it is crucial for the team to plan accordingly to ensure players get sufficient rest and treatment before match days. But it's important to remember that this is a two-way street, as Big Ten teams, including USC's future opponent, the Penn State Nittany Lions, will also need to travel to the West Coast for games.

To address this challenge, Penn State's Athletic Director, Pat Kraft, reveals they have devised a plan to cope with the travel demands.

“We want to get an edge.” Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft said. “We want to make sure that we’re there and that we’re playing at our best. It’s eight hours coming this way no matter what. … The travel is what it is. I think it’s all the things surrounding the travel.”

(via The Atheltic)

From Penn State to LA is 2,572 miles, and if either team doesn't plan accordingly, it could be a long Saturday for either team.

Proper rest and preparation are significant for both teams, and Penn State seems to take the necessary steps to get that.

The timing of when they arrive matters as Penn States' assistant athletic director Jon Nelson discusses the nuances of the travel.

“The bigger conversation is if we do go a day earlier, what does that do for the rest of our preparation week?” Nelson said. “We’re looking at a lot of different things, studying what they’re doing in the NFL, across a couple of different colleagues that work at that level. They travel much more extensively than we do. They’re doing it all the time.”

(via The Atheltic)

Once the two teams take the field, none of it will matter, but it is essential to take precautions.

Through it all, we're excited to see USC and Penn State battle it out like how they used to in the Rose Bowl throughout the years.