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DeShaun Foster breaks down challenge of brutal Big Ten road schedule for UCLA

FaceProfileby:Thomas Goldkamp•07/24/24
on3.com/deshaun-foster-explains-recruiting-pitch-for-ucla/
© Jayne Kamin-Oncea

One of the real challenges with the new Big Ten will be the sheer amount of travel for teams out west like UCLA. But new Bruins coach DeShaun Foster is eagerly anticipating the challenge.

For him, it’ll be nothing new, even if it will be for his players.

“The NFL you travel, so it was the same thing,” DeShaun Foster said at Big Ten Media Days.

UCLA, though, will have an inordinate amount of travel. According to Bookies.com, UCLA will travel a Big Ten-high 22,048 miles this season, crossing 26 time zones.

It’ll make for a unique challenge for the first-year head coach, but there are some small perks within the schedule.

“LSU and Hawaii, we won’t be in school for those two games,” Foster said. “So those aren’t too bad with the travel. But Penn State and Rutgers will be during the school year.”

Those latter two games will be in the heart of the season and will require a ton of travel. UCLA will literally be going coast to coast to take on its opponent, with both expected to be tough outs in 2024.

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For his part, DeShaun Foster isn’t overly worried.

“You know, it’s part of the game,” he said. “If you want to play big-time ball you’re going to have to travel. You’re going to have to go to new stadiums and hostile environments. I think we’re looking forward to that.”

Other road venues that UCLA will hit in 2024 include Nebraska and Washington. While Washington isn’t a new venue, it’s certainly a tough one. Meanwhile, Nebraska will be looking to take a big leap forward in its second season under coach Matt Rhule.

Foster fully expects a fight, one with increased difficulty thanks to the travel. But he embraces the chance to perform.

“That’s why we’re excited for the Big Ten,” DeShaun Foster said. “You just get an opportunity to play in a lot of stadiums that you usually wouldn’t get an opportunity to. So I know our players are excited to do that. But once we get in that week that’s when we really lock in, but until then we’re just excited to be in the Big Ten.”