Huskers Prepare for Historic Road Game Against Maryland
The Nebraska Cornhuskers are set to face the Maryland Terrapins in College Park, Maryland, this Saturday, marking their first true road game of the season. This matchup comes after the recent defeat of the Penn State Nittany Lions against UCLA, which has prompted discussions about the challenges of travel in college football. Despite the travel concerns raised by other teams, Huskers head coach Matt Rhule emphasized that his players will not complain about the journey.
Travel Trends for the Huskers
Nebraska and Missouri are the only two teams that have yet to play away from home this season. The Tigers will follow the Huskers by making their first road trip to Auburn next week, matching the record for the latest first road game in NCAA history. The Huskers’ upcoming trip to Maryland marks a significant milestone as it is their first of two games this season that are more than 1,000 miles from home, with the second being against UCLA. This season has already become the tenth most traveled in the program’s history, with the team covering over 7,600 miles in total, and the distance could increase further if they qualify for a bowl game.
Interestingly, while the Huskers’ travel mileage ranks 56th in college football for 2025, they stand close to fellow Big Ten competitor Penn State, which ranks 57th.
East vs. West Travel Dynamics
Historically, teams that travel east for games tend to perform better than those heading west. In the College Football Playoff era, teams traveling east win approximately 42.7% of the time, compared to just 40% for those traveling west. The Huskers have struggled in both categories, with a win rate of only 33.3% when traveling east and a mere 16.7% when heading west, although they have played only six games west of Nebraska since 2014.
Despite their challenges on the road, the Huskers have maintained a dominant record within 250 miles of Lincoln, securing over 82% of their games in that region. This strong performance has been built on victories against teams like Kansas and Iowa State during their time in the Big 8 and Big 12 conferences.
While the Huskers have excelled in home or nearby games, their performance over long distances has also been commendable. Among the 82 teams that have played at least five games more than 1,000 miles away, Nebraska ranks 16th in win percentage, standing at 58.3%. In comparison, Penn State has a slightly better record, sitting at 14th with a 62.5% win rate.
Coach Rhule has indicated a proactive approach to mitigate any potential travel fatigue. The team will depart for Maryland a day earlier than usual, arriving on Thursday instead of Friday. This adjustment aims to ensure that players have adequate rest before the game, potentially improving their performance.
As the Huskers prepare for this significant road trip, their ability to adapt to travel demands will be crucial. The team’s performance in the early stages of the game will provide insights into Rhule’s preparation and strategy. With the changing dynamics of travel and competition, all eyes will be on how the Huskers manage the journey and rise to the occasion in College Park.
Fans and supporters can keep up with the Nebraska Cornhuskers through various platforms, including Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, HuskerMax on YouTube, and HuskerMax.com.
