By the numbers: How Big Ten teams are faring traveling multiple time zones in 2025

For the second time in history, Michigan Wolverines football will play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum when taking on Southern California Saturday, in the second-ever Big Ten matchup between the storied programs.

The lone meeting at the venue was a 16-6 Wolverine victory Sept. 28, 1957. The Wolverines are 5-6 all time against the Trojans, winning last year’s clash, 27-24, in Ann Arbor.

It’s not easy to win after a long plane ride, as Big Ten teams found out in 2024, going 6-22 when playing multiple time zones away.

While the results are a bit better so far this season, with Big Ten institutions holding a 5-5 record in those situations, there have been some shocking outcomes, such as Penn State’s 42-37 loss at UCLA this past weekend — the Bruins’ first win on the season.

Away	Home	Result for away team
Oregon	Northwestern	W, 34-14
Oregon	Penn State	W, 30-24 (OT)
Penn State	UCLA	L, 42-37
Minnesota	California	L, 27-14
Ohio State	Washington	W, 24-6
USC	Purdue	W, 33-7
USC	Illinois	L, 34-32
Washington	Maryland	W, 24-20
UCLA	Northwestern	L, 17-14
Michigan State	USC	L, 45-31

The Wolverines have had trouble out west, too, losing their last five true road games in the regular season against the Pac-12 or former members of that league, including last season’s 27-17 setback to Washington.

Michigan hasn’t won a road game under those circumstances since 1989, and pulling that one out wasn’t easy, with U-M recovering an onside kick before J.D. Carlson booted the game-winning field goal.

Here’s a look at Michigan’s road tilts at Pac-12 foes or former league members since 1969.

Date	Opponent	Result
Oct. 5, 2024	Washington	L, 27-17
Sept. 3, 2015	Utah	L, 24-17
Sept. 20, 2003	Oregon	L, 31-27
Sept. 8, 2001	Washington	L, 23-18
Sept. 16, 2000	UCLA	L, 23-20
Sept. 23, 1989	UCLA	W, 24-23
Sept. 17, 1983	Washington	L, 25-24
Sept. 29, 1979	California	W, 14-10
Oct. 5, 1974	Stanford	W, 27-16
Sept. 23, 1972	UCLA	W, 26-9
Sept. 26, 1970	Washington	W, 17-3

By the numbers: Michigan vs. USC

No. 1 is where USC quarterback Jayden Maiava ranks in ESPN’s total QBR metric with a 93.5 score. He leads the nation by a wide margin, with Georgia’s Gunner Stockton standing No. 2 at 89.5. Maiava has completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and 11 touchdowns with 1 interception, adding 20 rushes for 57 yards and 4 scores.

2nd In the Big Ten, behind only Michigan junior Justice Haynes (654 rushing yards), is where USC junior running back Waymond Jordan ranks with 537 rushing yards. Jordan has rushed 77 times and has 5 touchdowns. Jordan is in his first season with the Trojans, after transferring in from Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where he was the 2024 NJCAA DI Football Offensive Player of the Year.

4 True freshman quarterbacks have had 100-plus dropbacks this season, including Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, who ranks second among that group with 7.7 yards per pass attempt — behind only BYU’s Bear Bachmeier. Underwood has connected on 77 of his 130 passes (59.2 percent) for 1,003 yards and 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. He’s also rushed 27 times for 181 yards and 3 scores.

5 Games, five 100-plus-yard rushing performances for Haynes, who leads the Big Ten and ranks fourth nationally with 654 rushing yards. He’s carried 85 times and has 8 touchdowns.

11.4 Yards per passing attempt for Maiava, leading the country. Illinois’ Luke Altmyer is No. 2 at 10.6.

48.4 Points per game for USC, ranking third in the country behind only Tennessee (51) and Texas Tech (48.6).

112 Receiving yards by Michigan graduate wide receiver Donaven McCulley last week — the most by a U-M wideout in a game since Roman Wilson posted 143 in a 41-13 win over Purdue Nov. 4, 2023. Prior to that, it was Cornelius Johnson with 160 in a 45-23 triumph over Ohio State Nov. 26, 2022.

225-Plus passing yards allowed by USC to all three Power Four opponents it has faced — 305 to Purdue, 225 to Michigan State and 331 to Illinois. The Trojans have given up 11 touchdowns through the air this season, tied for the 11th most in the FBS. They’re 111th in passing defense at 251 yards allowed per contest.

589 Receiving yards for USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, checking in third in the country and first in the Big Ten. He has 35 receptions and has scored 5 touchdowns.