NCAA Conference Realignment Strains Athletes, Teams And The Planet
As the 2025 Men's and Women's NCAA Final Four wraps up the season, it marks a moment to reflect on the effects of conference realignment. Shifts in conference structures have led to travel that has stretched teams and fans across the country. These changes are not only reshaping the landscape of college sports, they are contributing to a mounting climate crisis, creating long-term consequences that go beyond the disruption of traditional rivalries and empty seats in arenas.
As the NCAA grapples with name, image, and likeness policies, transfer portal dynamics, and mounting mental health concerns, the 2024/25 season also brought with it major conference realignments. The prominent athletic programs of Oregon and UCLA joined the Big Ten, and Cal and Stanford moved to the Atlantic Coast Conference. These changes, motivated largely by financial incentives and media rights deals in football, have brought about consequences for athlete well-being, travelling fans and environmental sustainability.
While football was the driving force behind the reshuffle, basketball and other sports have arguably been more affected by increased travel. Conference realignment has impacted college basketball 'in a worse way than it did football, forcing fans to either travel distances outside of their region to support the team or watch at home, leading to empty areas for big-time games,' reported Brock Vierra for Sports Illustrated.
While travelling is a violation on the basketball court, it's a necessity off it. Conference realignments have resulted in increased travel for nearly every school in the four major conferences in 2024-25, according to Wall Street Journal analysis.
The 10 schools that left the Pac-12 had the largest uptick, travelling between 47% and 222% further than the 2023-24 season. The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team reportedly travelled 26,700 miles this season, up from 7,327 miles in the 2023-24 season. Similarly, Stanford and Cal women's basketball teams each traveled over 23,000 miles in their inaugural ACC season.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - MARCH 21: Rashaan Mbemba #21 of the Colorado State Rams and Dain Dainja #42 of ... More the Memphis Tigers go up for the tip off at the beginning of the first quarter of the game during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Climate Pledge Arena on March 21, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by C. Morgan Engel/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Outside of basketball, the 18 Big Ten football teams racked up an estimated 158,000 miles of travel during the 2024 season, roughly the equivalent of circling the Earth six times. The Stanford women's volleyball team will travel more than 33,700 miles by the end of the 2024-25 season, three times more than during their final Pac-12 season. Gymnastics also report a similar overall picture of increased travel across the conference.
The physical and mental strain associated with higher instances of cross-country travel poses challenges for athlete recovery and sleep patterns. Frequent travel across multiple time zones disrupts circadian rhythms and increases the risk of injuries due to inadequate rest and recovery. These concerns led Cal men's basketball coach, Mark Madsen, to bring NASA in to share recovery insights.
The Big Ten bylaws require teams to have at least two days between games, so more time away from campus is sometimes needed to comply with scheduling rules. Class time is increasingly missed and online classes are needed.
'Increased travel means more stress on your physical health and academic career,' says NYU varsity women's basketball player and 2024 and 2025 NCAA National Champion, Belle Pellecchia. 'Student athlete mental health is more of a problem than we are recognising. Support might be better now than it used to be, but it's still not considered enough.'
SALEM, VIRGINIA - MARCH 22: Belle Pellecchia #4 of the NYU Violets shoots a free throw in the second ... More half during the Division III Women's Basketball Championship held at the Cregger Center on March 22, 2025 in Salem, Virginia. (Photo by Ryan Hunt/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
It's not just the student athletes that are impacted, says Jonathan Casper, associate professor and sport management program coordinator at North Carolina State University. But also 'the often-overlooked athletic administration staff, trainers, and graduate assistants who travel with the teams. These individuals are expected to perform their duties despite jet lag, extended travel, and lost time.'
USC men's basketball coach Eric Musselman shared his thoughts on his team's fifth trip to Eastern or Central time zones this season. 'I'm so exhausted," he told reporters. "My wife summed it up best this morning that she's never seen me so sick throughout the course of a college basketball season.' UCLA men's basketball coach, Mick Cronin, has been outspoken about the impacts of travel too.
Fans are also feeling the toll, facing longer trips and higher costs to see their teams play. Casper believes there might be an initial honeymoon period for those travelling to away games at new locations, but excitement could be 'tempered by the realities of long flights, little free time to explore, and the toll of crossing multiple time zones.'
The increased carbon emissions associated with more frequent travel, over longer distances, raises a red flag for the environment. Calculating definitive figures for the increase in carbon emissions from travel this season is difficult, with many variables and lack of data on teams, let alone fans. For football however, researchers have found that team travel emissions in the 2024 season were estimated to have doubled compared to 2023.
Increased travel driving up carbon emissions sits in opposition to leading experts advising that we actually need "rapid, deep, and immediate" cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, to avert the most severe consequences of climate change. 2024 was the hottest year on record, and we are going to be poorer, and sicker in a warming climate.
LOS ANGELES CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 18: A burned basketball hoop stands in the yard of a home that ... More burned in the Palisades Fire on January 18, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Twenty-seven people are confirmed killed by wildfires in Los Angeles County so far as urban search and rescue teams continue combing through the destruction. Historic wildfires driven by dry conditions and powerful Santa Ana winds destroyed homes by the thousands, beginning January 7. The region has had virtually no significant rain since last winter, lowering the moisture content in the local chaparral habitat vegetation and increasing its flammability. Scientists say that fluctuating years of extreme weather conditions - record drought years broken by record or near-record rainy winters - is fueled by worsening human-caused climate change. No rain is in the forecast at this time and communities are bracing for a possible return of dangerous fire weather next week. (Photo by)
Bad weather and natural disasters have disrupted sports schedules for decades, but scientific consensus shows that climate change, driven by human activities, is now causing more frequent and intense extreme weather events.
This is increasingly disrupting college sports, including those that take place indoors. A historic snowstorm hit Louisiana in January 2025, and five men's and women's basketball games were postponed due to 'hazardous travel conditions.' Around the same time, wildfires were burning in Los Angeles, leading Northwestern women's basketball to forfeit games to USC and UCLA, due to their decision not to travel. 'While we acknowledge that bylaws and rules are in place for a reason and we will abide by them, it does not diminish this team's sound reasoning for not participating during this natural disaster,' said athletic director Mark Jackson.
'There are a lot of kinks to be ironed out,' says Jessica Murfree, assistant professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 'Performance, revenue and other elements will be cited, but our environment is the puppet master behind it all.'
The success of college sports depends on athlete performance, both in terms of physical conditioning and games actually taking place. Both are impacted by our environment. The uptick in travel associated with conference realignment is contributing to the climate crisis, while the climate crisis is making college sports more challenging. 'Moving forward, college sports programs will need to proactively plan for extreme weather events and have contingency plans in place, especially for outdoor sports,' says Jonathan Casper.
In spite of these college athletes facing more travel and tougher conditions, 'the expectations on them to perform will continue to go up,' says Jessica Murfree. 'We wouldn't have this massive conference realignment and new TV deals if there wasn't a return on the investment.'
CHAPEL HILL, NC - JANUARY 15: Head coach Mark Madsen of the California Golden Bears coaches during a ... More game against the North Carolina Tar Heels on January 15, 2025 at the Dean Smith Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. North Carolina won 53-79. (Photo by Peyton Williams/UNC/Getty Images)
Optimizing fixture schedules to reduce travel miles could have 'tremendous benefits' says Brian McCullough, associate professor at University of Michigan, including cost savings, performance recovery and athlete wellbeing. 'These optimizations can also help reduce environmental impacts of the expanded conferences.'
Optimized schedules that reduce carbon emissions could involve matches between teams with shorter travel distances, and if longer travel is required and student timetables allow, adding additional matches with teams along the way. "I would love to bunch it up," Cal men's basketball coach, Mark Madsen has said. 'Let's get four games in one trip. Let's get three games in a trip.' He also suggested early tip times on Saturday to allow easier return travel.
As the NCAA and its member institutions look to the future, the path forward for college sports must consider more than just growth, revenue and viewership. The consequences of conference realignment are already evident in the physical and mental toll on athletes and staff, and escalating carbon emissions amidst a worsening climate crisis. Financial sustainability might be at the forefront of minds, but if college athletics are to remain socially and environmentally viable in the long term, the NCAA must address climate resilience and travel impacts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Three amateurs vie for Smyth Salver honors at AIG Women's British Open at Porthcawl
The list of recent Smyth Salver winners is packed with stars. The award, given to the low amateur at the AIG Women's British Open, has served as a strong indicator of future success, with names like Lydia Ko, Danielle Kang, Georgia Hall, Leona Maguire, Jeeno Thitikul and most recently, Lottie Woad, receiving the honor. Three amateurs made the cut this week at Royal Porthcawl, and two of them were paired together on Saturday, with Paula Martin Sampedro and Jeneath Wong playing alongside each other while Carla Bernat, known as Carla Bernat Escuder prior to this week, was just a few groups back. Spain's Martin Sampedro carded five birdies in a 2-under 70 on Saturday to take a three-shot lead in the amateur race, moving to even par for the championship. A 73 from Bernat, the Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, moved her to 3 over for the week while Wong's 77 put her at 7 over for the tournament. It's been a massive summer for Stanford's Martin Sampedro, who won both the British Women's Amateur and European Ladies' Amateur Championship in Germany. She currently ranks third in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. "I try to stay consistent, especially when a mistake comes," she said after the third round, "just not trying to do too much and accept that and just walk out with a bogey, and that could be good. Just not trying to make like big numbers on this course." Bernat noted that every part of her game has improved since she won the ANWA in April, though the scores might not show it now. She's also learned how to prepare for a major, something she knows many amateurs don't have the opportunity to do. This is Bernat's fourth major championship start of the year, courtesy of that Augusta victory. "I mean, it sounds crazy, but for me, (this is) the beginning, I haven't started yet," said Bernat. "It's cool to win on amateur tournaments, but what I want, it's in the future."
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
USC football countdown to kickoff—Vavae Malepeai in focus
The countdown to USC's 2025 football season is officially on! The Trojans kick off their new campaign 29 days from today. You need something to help you while away the days and hours in the spring and summer. This is one way to do so. In this new series, countdown to kickoff, we will be counting down the days by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number. Today, we look at former USC running back Vavae Malepeai. Position: Running back Years played at USC: 2016-2021 Career highlights: Although never the flashiest running back, Malepeai was Mr. Consistent for USC. After redshirting in 2016 and serving in a backup role in 2017, Malepeai was one of the Trojans' two primary backs for each of the past two seasons. In 2018, 2019, and 2021, he finished with over 500 rushing yards and at least six touchdowns. Malepeai wore number 29 for his first five years at USC, before switching to number six for his final season in 2021. After USC: Since 2023, Malepeai has been an offensive quality control analyst at Stanford. This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football countdown to kickoff recalls Trojans RB Vavae Malepeai
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-lead-image-JAPANMISTAKES0725-74e751a09ac844898f6e8917ab7dfd28.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
4 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Lived in Japan for 20 Years—and These Are 10 Common Mistakes I See Tourists Make
Ah, the horror of the cultural faux pas. The hot twist of shame that keeps you up at night, cheeks burning and wondering if you should just grab your passport and make a midnight run for the border. I know the feeling well. With its opaque rules and rigid customs, even the most conscientious traveler can put a foot wrong in Japan. While people are generally gracious about missteps, recent surges in tourist numbers are starting to strain that vaunted hospitality. I've lived here for 20 years—here are 10 common mistakes to avoid on your next trip to Japan. A hand picks up sushi with chopsticks. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images Dining etiquette is a minefield, and the rules are different depending on the cuisine, but proper chopstick manners always make you look good. I'm not talking about being able to use them, although expect any level of proficiency to be greeted with effusive praise. I'm talking about where to put them. When you aren't eating, place chopsticks on the rest provided. In the case of disposable chopsticks, you can make a rest by folding the paper sleeve in half. Never stick them upright in a bowl of rice, as this symbolizes an offering to the dead. Don't point to things with chopsticks or commit the double-dipping sin of taking food from a common plate with chopsticks that have been in your mouth. Some other good tips for dining out: Do slurp noodles like ramen, eat nice sushi with your hands, and neatly fold up the oshibori hand towel after use. Don't arrive late to a reservation, leave food uneaten, or wear strong scents, especially to kaiseki or sushi, where the chef will be highly protective of the subtle flavors. Part of maintaining social harmony in space-starved Japan is literally keeping the peace. I almost never see Japanese people—well, sober ones anyway—having raucous conversations in public. This especially goes for phone conversations. It's considered rude to answer one's phone on public transport or in a restaurant, for example. Of course, you've got to let it all out sometime, and the volume goes way up in places like pubs, playgrounds, and festivals. The rule of thumb is to read the room and set your volume accordingly. A passenger awaits a train arriving in a station. Those videos you've seen of staff physically cramming people into trains? They're real. Rush hour in Tokyo is no joke, as my bruised toes and crushed lungs can attest. So, bringing a giant suitcase on the train at 8 a.m. and parking it in front of the door isn't going to win you any fans. Luckily, Japan has excellent next-day luggage delivery services, so pack an overnight carry-on and entrust oversized bags to the pros. Even at off-peak times, avoid blocking the doors or ticket gates by standing to the side and hold backpacks in front of you so they don't whack other passengers. Eating or drinking is also a no-go, except for long-distance services like the bullet train, where bringing a bento box is practically imperative. One other point to remember is that trains don't run 24/7 in Japan, even in big cities like Tokyo. Particularly for day trips to more rural areas, be sure to check the departure time for your last train so you don't get stranded. A person handing over Japanese Yen. During the pandemic, Japan got a lot better about accepting digital payments, but there are still lots of places that only want cold, hard cash, especially small businesses. I've seen many a tourist have to scramble to find an ATM when they realize they've just eaten a meal they can't pay for. Just to be safe, always carry a bit of cash. Also, Japanese people rarely pass money directly to a cashier, wanting to evade an awkward hand touch. Instead, there is a tray provided next to the register. It's polite to put your cash on the tray and allow the cashier to pick it up. They'll return your change the same way or cushioned on top of a receipt. This one goes out especially to my fellow Americans: Leave the tipping culture at home. It is never expected in Japan for any service, and it just creates confusion. I've seen waitstaff chase customers down the street to return money left on the table. It's like if you went to the supermarket and tried to tip the cashier—they'd just be confused and insist on giving you the correct change. If someone really goes above and beyond, a small gift of appreciation like chocolate will usually be graciously accepted, particularly if it's something representative of your hometown or that isn't readily available in Japan. But again, none of this is expected, and a sincere thank you is appreciated just as much. Nonverbal communication can get non-Japanese speakers a long way, but be aware that not all gestures translate. A common miscommunication happens with beckoning. In Japan, a come-hither gesture is performed palm down with a flick of the fingers, which unfortunately looks a bit like how Europeans and North Americans communicate 'Buzz off, jerk!' When signaling for the check, miming signing a bill will sometimes work, but the more standard gesture is to cross your index fingers in an X, indicating you don't wish to order anything else. Finally, bowing with hands pressed in front of your chest: While this communicates gratitude in much of Southeast Asia, it looks like over-the-top pleading in Japan. A standard bow here is with hands at your sides or clasped neatly at the waist. View of Kyoto through a taxi window. Daniel Gorostieta/Travel + Leisure People often joke about Japan living in the future. When I first arrived, the automatic taxi door cemented that idea as gospel for me. The driver just hits a button and the door swings open to let you in, no need to juggle bags or touch hot metal. The same goes for alighting. Once you've paid, the door automatically swings open to let you out. Magic! Of course, the mechanism can get broken if mishandled, which is why drivers have a sharp word if you try to manually open the door. In other taxi-related tips, drivers will usually insist on loading luggage in the trunk as part of their service. It's okay to hail a taxi on the street so long as there is room to pull off, but you can generally find taxi ranks in front of stations and hotels. Uber does exist in Japan, but only in major cities. Also, it will only connect you with a taxi. A local app called Go is cheaper and more widely used. Following a change to public health laws in 2020, smoking is pretty tightly restricted in Japan to prevent second-hand exposure. This means no smoking in public areas like restaurants and hotels except in designated smoking rooms. All train services, including long-distance bullet trains, are non-smoking. Smoking while walking on the street is banned, and police can hit you with an on-the-spot fine if they catch you lighting up. Screened smoking areas are usually found outside stations or other gathering spots, complete with bins for your butts. Vapes fall under the same rules. And note that e-liquids containing nicotine are not sold in Japan, but you can bring up to 120mL for personal use. Exterior of Kyoto's Imperial Palace. Maria Ligaya/Travel + Leisure Most Japanese people have a very loose relationship to religion compared to some Westerners, adopting practices from Buddhism, Shinto, and even Christianity. That doesn't mean they don't take it seriously, though. A common complaint among my Japanese friends is tourists' lack of respect at shrines and temples. Not just the buildings but also the grounds are considered sacred, so remove hats and sunglasses, moderate your volume, don't take photos of ceremonies unless given express permission, and certainly don't do gymnastics off the torii gates. Another pro tip: The center of the path under a torii is reserved for deities, so stand to the left or right when taking pictures. Visiting a hot spring or sento public bath is a literal immersion in a bathing culture that has lasted more than a millennium. It's part of the social and spiritual fabric of life in Japan, where a long soak before bed is still a nightly practice in many households. But like everything, it has its rules. The communal water is for soaking, so shower first to ensure you aren't bringing in a day's worth of sweat and grime. The small towel provided can be used as a washcloth. Some smaller facilities don't have showers. In that case, use the little buckets provided to scoop up water from the bath and pour it over yourself where it won't splash others. No swimsuits are allowed. It's also bad form to let your towel touch the water, so many people rest it on their heads. Loud talking or splashing can disturb other bathers, so just slip into the water and keep your conversations to a murmur.
