How K-State is handling long, hectic travel schedule for football game in Dublin
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- K-State scheduled early travel and recovery routines to combat jet lag in Dublin.
- Players use sleep training and circulation devices to manage long-haul flight strain.
- Coaches emphasize pregame preparation as vital as performance on Ireland game day.
One of the hardest things associated with Kansas State’s overseas football opener against Iowa State is undoubtedly the long and hectic travel schedule the Wildcats must follow just to get to Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland.
Unlike most road or neutral-site games, this trip is more complicated than simply flying out of Manhattan on Friday afternoon and then showing up for kickoff on Saturday.
For this unique Week 0 game, K-State plans to bus to Kansas City on Wednesday and then take a nine-hour overnight flight to Europe. The Wildcats will arrive in Dublin six time zones away from home on Thursday morning and waste little time before heading to practice that afternoon. From there, head coach Chris Klieman says the roster will have a special team dinner and tour parts of the city. On Friday, the Wildcats will practice again and then attend a pep rally with their supporters.
Kickoff won’t arrive until 5 p.m. (Irish time) on Saturday. That’s 11 a.m. Central.
It goes without saying the team that best handles the days leading up to game time will have an advantage.
“What we can’t predict is how everybody is going to handle it,” K-State football coach Chris Klieman said. “Who is going to sleep really well? Who is not going to sleep really well? Thursday will be a tough day, honestly, for both teams, because we arrive at about the same time and we will be going through our daily process trying to have a really productive Thursday and then trying to get back on schedule and getting to bed Thursday night.”
Because of that extra stress, the Wildcats are taking the next few days as seriously as they are the game itself.
“It’s definitely important before we get on the flight to get our bodies right,” K-State wide receiver Jaron Tibbs said. “We need to be in the hot tub and the cold tub, stretching and then trying to get our sleep schedule right, because obviously it’s a time difference. We’re trying not to sleep too much or try not to sleep too little.”
K-State players agree that it will be important for them to treat the flight to Dublin like an extra practice.
Offensive lineman Taylor Poitier has said that trainers are teaching players how to maximize their sleep schedule this week. Senior tight end Will Swanson has done research on how to keep his blood flowing on a long flight.
Some players will wear recovery devices on their legs to help stimulate blood flow and to keep their bodies fresh as they travel.
“One thing that I was mindful about is, I’m sitting on a plane for eight hours at elevation and having blood sitting in my feet for the entire flight,” Swanson said. “I just want to ensure that I have blood flow through my legs and I am able to recover. I’m not too worried about it, but I want to ensure I have time to get my legs back.”
K-State quarterback Avery Johnson is confident that extensive travel and jet leg won’t hurt the Wildcats this week.
He is hopeful that K-State can have a good trip to Ireland and end its losing streak to Iowa State. But even if that happens, the Wildcats will face more travel demands as they return home and begin preparing for their second game of the season against North Dakota on Aug. 30.
“They’re going to have a lot more stuff for us when we come back,” Johnson said, “to make sure that even after this Week 0 game our bodies are back and we’re ready to go for the Week 1 game. They’re asking us to do a lot of things, but we aren’t even asking questions. We’re just doing it so our bodies can feel as fresh as possible whenever we kick off.”
This story was originally published August 19, 2025 at 8:06 AM with the headline "How K-State is handling long, hectic travel schedule for football game in Dublin."