Ohio State head coach Ryan Day addressed the growing conversation in the Big Ten about whether traveling across multiple time zones poses a significant challenge for teams. As the top matchup between Ohio State and the Oregon Ducks approaches, long-distance travel is once again a hot topic among players, coaches and analysts. But Day was quick to downplay those concerns when asked about the challenges of traveling across the continent.
When asked about the struggles of Big Ten teams playing games across two time zones this season, especially since those teams are 1-8 this year, Day was candid. “Well, I don’t think it’s that difficult,” he replied, emphasizing that such a trip isn’t much different than any other long road game in the Big Ten. He went on to explain, “It’s a four-and-a-half hour flight, and we’re going to be on East Coast time, a few more hours than Nebraska.”
Day’s comments suggest a pragmatic approach focused on keeping team routines consistent despite changing geography. By keeping the team on a normal East Coast time schedule and structuring its preparation around a typical practice routine, Day is confident the team will not be affected by distance. “We’re going to stick to the time schedule…game times and everything kind of fits in with the practice method,” he added, further dispelling concerns about adjusting to different time zones.
The data may suggest otherwise, as the team’s 1-8 record this year, which traveled across two time zones, raised alarm in some people. However, digging deeper into these games reveals that many of the teams that made these trips were underdogs to begin with, and their struggles may have more to do with the quality of their opponents than the trips themselves. It is suggested that there is.
Of the eight losses, only two teams lost to championship favorites, both to the University of Southern California, led by head coach Lincoln Riley. The majority of matches were played by teams expected to lose, regardless of whether they were on the road or not.
Day’s approach stands in contrast to some other coaches who have emphasized travel as a primary concern and employed a variety of strategies across the conference to minimize its impact. While some teams focus on adapting to new time zones or splitting up road trips to acclimate, Day is sticking to a familiar routine and not using these long road trips as a focus. He is confident in Ohio State’s ability to deal with the situation.
The Ohio State head coach’s confidence likely reflects his belief in his team’s overall readiness and resiliency. As he pointed out, “We’re not going to look into that too much.” By minimizing the potential for distractions and disruptions while on the move, Day can focus more on the game itself, rather than how far the Buckeyes have to go to play the game. It seems to be sending a message that it is there.
At the end of the day, as the Big Ten expands, the debate over travel and time zones will continue, but Ryan Day remains steadfast in his belief that it’s not a big challenge for his team. His strategy of staying on East Coast time and not overemphasizing the travel aspect is consistent with the broader concept that preparation and focus on the game plan are far more important than distance traveled.
It will be interesting to see if Day’s approach proves effective as the season progresses and the Buckeyes take on new challenges in an evolving conference environment.
