Mapping college football’s 6 big New Year’s bowl games

Bowl season can make for some pretty crazy travel plans for college football teams. Geography isn’t always a major factor in bowl decisions, but the new College Football Playoff selection committee took locality into account when creating parts of the six biggest bowls, the New Year’s Six (the two Playoff games and four other major games).

Here’s a look at which NY6 teams made out the best, which ones had the most brutal travel plans, and which fans will just get to take a short bus trip.

Distance from Oregon: 855 miles

Distance from Florida State: 2,252 miles

Distance between the schools: 2,791 miles

Neutral site, by car: North Platte High School in North Platte, Nebraska

Distance from Ohio State: 913 miles

Distance from Alabama: 292 miles

Distance between the schools: 625 miles

Neutral site, by car: L.T. Smith Stadium at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green Kentucky

Distance from TCU: 817 miles

Distance from Ole Miss: 331 miles

Distance between the schools: 547 miles

Neutral site, by car: Gurdon High School in Gurdon, Arkansas

Distance from Arizona: 131 miles

Distance from Boise State: 898 miles

Distance between the schools: 1,033 miles

Neutral site, by car: Key Pittman Wildlife Management Area in Hiko, Nevada

Distance from Georgia Tech: 651 miles

Distance from Mississippi State: 855 miles

Distance between the schools: 286 miles

Neutral site, by car: Spain Park High School in Hoover, Alabama

Distance from Baylor: 101 miles

Distance from Michigan State: 1,134 miles

Distance between the schools: 1,247 miles

Neutral site, by car: Hayti High School in Hayti, Missouri

Images via Google Maps