Defender Andre Roberts (8) and midfielder Gage Walling (22) fight for the ball. The Norse lose to Ohio State 5-0 on Sept. 3, 2026. Credit: Cassandra D’Angelo | Sports Photo Editor.
A typical Big Ten road trip doesn’t require the Ohio State men’s soccer team to travel across three time zones.
This weekend, it does.
The Buckeyes will travel nearly 2,000 miles to Los Angeles to face UCLA on Saturday, their longest road trip of the season.
The trip will change Ohio State’s usual routine, from training and recovery to sleep schedules and schoolwork.
Some of those adjustments have already started.
Head coach Brian Maisonneuve said Ohio State’s medical staff reviewed the team’s travel plans and gave players recommendations on sleep, hydration and mealtimes to help with the three-hour time difference.
“Even starting now, [we’re] going to bed a little bit later, just starting to get ready for the adjustment,” Maisonneuve said.
The Buckeyes will leave Columbus Thursday night and are expected to arrive in Los Angeles around 10 p.m. local time. Maisonneuve said the team will also adjust its mealtimes after arriving and use Friday to get used to the time change.
Senior defender and team captain Andre Roberts said he tries to adjust to the time difference by staying awake later than he normally would after arriving in Los Angeles.
“I try and not sleep until I’m at like 10 or 11 p.m. their time just so I’m well adjusted when I wake up,” Roberts said.
The extra day in Los Angeles also means another day away from the classroom.
Roberts said players send travel letters to their professors in advance with the dates they will miss. He also talks with his professors before leaving to see if he needs to catch up on anything.
“There’s definitely a small adjustment, but we’re expected to be on top of our academics,” Roberts said. “It’s not really anything extra out of the ordinary. It’s just communicating with your professors in advance one more day.”
Maisonneuve said the Buckeyes also hold study hours for players while on the road.
Roberts said he has learned to handle schoolwork throughout his time at Ohio State.
“You have a lot of responsibility yourself,” Roberts said. “Compared to youth travel trips where you have your parents or other coaches kind of looking out for you, it’s really like you got to keep track of your own stuff and make sure you get it done.”
The Buckeyes haven’t played at home since a 4-0 loss to Washington Sept. 21 and won’t return to Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium until Oct. 16 against Michigan State.
“Bus rides like Penn State, when you come back at three, four in the morning, it does wear on you,” Maisonneuve said. “That’s why we took that extra day in terms of just getting our bodies back.”
Ohio State will return to Columbus Sunday, but Roberts said it can take a few days to settle back into a normal routine after traveling across multiple time zones.
Despite the adjustments that come with the trip, Roberts said the players are looking forward to the extra time together.
“A lot of times people look at travel days like it’s a drag, but for us, we’re excited for it, ready for the challenge,” Roberts said. “Being able to hang out with the guys away from Columbus for an extra three days, it’s exciting.”
Ohio State will face UCLA at 9 p.m. EDT Saturday at Wallis Annenberg Stadium in Los Angeles.
