Eddie George was hired at Bowling Green on March 9, 2025, a little more than one month prior to the … More
With conference realignment altering travel schedules throughout most of Division-I athletics, and drastically so in some instances, it can be difficult to construct game schedules that include relatively light itineraries. There are a handful of football teams, though, that will have it pretty easy in 2025 when it comes to travel. That is especially the case with Bowling Green in what will be Eddie George’s first season running the program.
In fact, eight of the Falcons’ first nine games are in the state of Ohio, which they leave only three times in 2025. The first trip is roughly 275 miles south to Louisville for a September 20 matchup. It will be another seven weeks before the Falcons again cross the state border, a short trip (75 miles) to Ypsilanti when they visit Eastern Michigan on November 8.
Bowling Green concludes the regular season November 25 at UMass, the team’s only trip outside the region, though like the other 11 games is in the Eastern Time Zone. Indeed, there will be no need to change wrist watches. In addition, each of the Falcons’ in-state trips – Cincinnati, Ohio and Kent State — is less than 200 miles one way. Here is a look at the Falcons’ schedule in George’s first season at the helm.
The 1995 Heisman winner at Ohio State was hired March 9 after four seasons (24-22) as coach at Tennessee State, which he led to an FCS playoff berth last year. George, who will return to his alma mater when the Falcons kick off the 2027 season in Columbus, was hired after Scott Loeffler departed to become the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback coach. Philly, by the way, is George’s hometown.
Below are a few other teams that have rather favorable travel schedules, at least during this season’s first half.
Miami
Mario Cristobal’s team does not leave the Sunshine State until November. Actually, October 31 when the ‘Canes fly to Dallas to play SMU the following day. That is the only time in the season’s first 10 games that Miami leaves the state. In fact, six of the first seven games are at Hard Rock Stadium with the lone road date in that stretch 500 miles to the north in Tallahassee against rival Florida State on October 4.
The Hurricanes kick off their season in primetime Sunday, August 31 against Notre Dame. Bethune-Cookman, USF and Florida visit Hard Rock the next three weeks. Miami then has an open date prior to visiting the Seminoles, who will be the fourth straight in-state opponent. Following another open week, Louisville and Stanford make their way to Miami Gardens.
Mississippi State
The Bulldogs’ first five games, played without an open date, are within the borders of the Magnolia state. Jeff Lebby’s second season at the helm in Starkville opens at Southern Miss and is followed by four straight at Davis Wade Stadium: Arizona State, Alcorn State, Northern Illinois and Tennessee. MSU’s first out-of-state game is at Texas A&M on October 4.
Missouri
The Tigers have eight home games this season, including the entire first half of the schedule. The run of six straight at Faurot Field commences August 30 versus Central Arkansas and is followed by visits from Kansas, Louisiana, South Carolina, UMass and, following an open date, Alabama on October 11. Mizzou finally hits the road for an October 18 encounter at Auburn.
North Carolina State
The Wolfpack left the Carolinas – note the plural – twice in their 12 regular season games last year. This season, the first six games are in the state of North Carolina and four of them are in the friendly confines of Carter-Finley Stadium. The two road trips are just that: 100 miles west on I-40 to meet Wake Forest in Winston-Salem on September 11 for a Thursday night game, then 25 miles to Durham to face Duke the following Saturday.
Dave Doeren’s 12th season at the helm in Raleigh gets underway August 28 against visiting East Carolina in the second straight game against the Pirates after losing to them in last year’s Military Bowl. Virginia arrives in town the following week and, after the aforementioned road trips, the Wolfpack hosts Virginia Tech and Campbell. The first out-of-state matchup is at Notre Dame on October 11.
Purdue
The schedule for Barry Odom’s first season in West Lafayette includes the Boilermakers not leaving Indiana until an October 11 trip to Minnesota. Four of the first five games are at home with the lone trip 200 miles north to South Bend to face the Fighting Irish on September 20. The first three games are at Ross-Ade Stadium against Ball State, Southern Illinois and, for the first time in 49 years, USC. The trip to Notre Dame is followed by an open week prior to Illinois’ visit October 4.
USF
The Bulls play their first five games within the state’s borders. What a start to the season it will be as they host Boise State on a Thursday evening (August 28) before trips up to Gainesville to face Florida and then down to Miami the next two weeks. USF hosts South Carolina State on September 20 and, following an open week, begins American Conference play against visiting Charlotte. Their first trip outside the Sunshine State is a Friday evening matchup October 10 at North Texas in what will be the Bulls’ longest trip of the season.
