[Softball Fan]

To convince me time zones are one of the biggest factors in determining wins or losses, I would have to see far more data points presented in an objective manner.

I believe that's the wishful thinking MSQUERI mentions. 

Of COURSE it's a factor.  We hope it can be mitigated

We've hated the early start timezone games for decades.  Multiple West Coast coaches in multiple sports from multiple schools complain about it.  This hasn't changed because we now like the ACC path.  The ACC may be our best path forward but we shouldn't pretend travel isn't an issue for student-athletes and their programs.  (And not just in football which we're all using in our examples.  The impact will be worse for many other sports.)

That's not my point.  I've traveled to the east coast more times than I can remember.  Travel is a factor.   So is playing at altitude at Colorado and Utah for some sports.   My issue was directing equating losses to the crossing of time zones.

[Softball Fan]

To convince me time zones are one of the biggest factors in determining wins or losses, I would have to see far more data points presented in an objective manner.

I believe that's the wishful thinking MSQUERI mentions. 

Of COURSE it's a factor.  We hope it can be mitigated

We've hated the early start timezone games for decades.  Multiple West Coast coaches in multiple sports from multiple schools complain about it.  This hasn't changed because we now like the ACC path.  The ACC may be our best path forward but we shouldn't pretend travel isn't an issue for student-athletes and their programs.  (And not just in football which we're all using in our examples.  The impact will be worse for many other sports.)

That's not my point.  I've traveled to the east coast more times than I can remember.  Travel is a factor.   So is playing at altitude at Colorado and Utah for some sports.   My issue was directing equating losses to the crossing of time zones.