Stanford and Cal have entered a new era in college sports, marked by challenges that would test any program's resolve. The 2023-24 season was the last chapter of their lives in the Pac-12, a conference that had become a home ground for these Bay Area schools.
Their regional road trips weren't more than 1,000 miles, with Colorado being their farthest conference rival at just over that distance. These were the days of sparse travel stress, where fans easily followed their teams from one end of the Pacific coast to the other.
However, the college sports landscape is always shifting, and Stanford and Cal have found themselves as part of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) now, after the unfortunate unraveling of the Pac-12. With this move, they left behind not just a conference, but some of their oldest and fiercest rivals. The historic battles against the likes of USC, Oregon, and Arizona have been put on a shelf, at least for now.
Now in their second year as ACC members, the road ahead—quite literally—looks long and winding. Stanford and Cal’s 2025-26 ACC schedule underscores the geographic challenges of their current conference alignment.
They are poised to embark on a journey covering roughly 22,000 miles one way for conference games alone. This staggering number does not even account for the return trips, highlighting the exhausting travel itinerary awaiting these teams.
Breaking it down further, Stanford and Cal will face nine non-conference away games, eight of which will happen over 2,000 miles from home. Their only local respite is the game against each other.
Their travel will span coast to coast, playing as far northeast as Boston, MA, down south to Miami, FL, and various points in between. For the athletes, coaches, and staff, this extensive travel commitment requires immense stamina and flexibility.
The 2024-25 season served as a wake-up call on what this new era entailed. The grueling travel played a part in both teams struggling on the road—Stanford posted a 2-8 conference road record, while Cal trailed at 1-9.
Embracing their new conference foes, and these expanded horizons, Stanford and Cal need to find ways to thrive despite the distance. Success demands adaptation and innovation, perhaps through enhanced travel strategies or leveraging technology for optimal performance recovery.
As the Bay Area schools navigate these logistical challenges, it will be intriguing to see how they rewrite their narratives in this expansive new chapter of college athletics. The travel miles may be longer, but so too is the opportunity for these programs to redefine their place on the national stage.
