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College Road Trip

Where to watch.

Watch College Road Trip with a subscription on Disney+, rent on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Filled with shrill gags and middling slapstick, College Road Trip is woefully short on comic imagination.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Roger Kumble

Martin Lawrence

Chief James Porter

Raven-Symoné

Melanie Porter

Donny Osmond

Brenda Song

Eshaya Draper

More Like This

Movie news & guides, this movie is featured in the following articles., critics reviews.

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College Road Trip Parent Guide

Melanie (Raven) can hardly wait to graduate and fly the nest. Yet as the high school student plans the perfect College Road Trip to investigate potential schools, her over-protective father refuses to let her leave the coop unless he comes along with the rest of her baggage.

Release date March 6, 2008

Run Time: 83 minutes

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kerry bennett.

The MPAA has rated College Road Trip G.

Fatherhood has a way of changing people, even caustic comedians like Martin Lawrence. According to one televised interview, this once foul-mouthed, stand-up entertainer wanted to tame down to a G-rated performance so his kids could see Dad on screen.

While the film is free of obscenities and the sexually suggestive material seen in many other Martin Lawrence films like Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins and Big Momma’s House , the script still brandishes the repeated, unprovoked use of tazers and golf clubs as humorous weapons of violence.

Like so many movies in this genre, College Road Trip is packed with unbelievably destructive and bizarre events meant for amusement. After following their faulty GPS device deep into the backwoods, James and Melanie discover her little brother (Eshaya Draper) and his pet pig stowed away in the spare tire compartment. What should be a simple tire change results in the expensive cruiser rolling down a mountain, forcing the trio and their pig to hike to a nearby hotel. There the porker completely bulldozes an outdoor wedding reception after ingesting an entire bag of coffee beans. If the constant mayhem isn’t enough, the Porters also meet Doug (Donny Osmond) and Wendy (Molly Ephraim) Greenhut, a musically exuberant dad and daughter pair who are also scouting out perspective schools.

The script seems to have started out with good intentions, yet every effort to bond with the characters on this journey is soon sidelined by the inflated antics of nearly everyone on screen. Although the movie tries to drive home a tender ending as father and daughter both make the inevitable move into a new phase of life, 90 minutes of screaming girls and wild mishaps are a lot to endure for a few brief moments of sentiment.

About author

Kerry Bennett

College road trip rating & content info.

Why is College Road Trip rated G? College Road Trip is rated G by the MPAA

Unable to talk to her dad, Melanie lies about attending a party with her friends before heading out on a road trip. At one stop, James tazers an undercover officer and later gets tazered himself by a dorm mother who finds him hiding under the bed of one of the girls. A group of men fight each other with golf clubs while driving stolen carts. After ingesting caffeine, a pig causes plenty of destruction as he leads his owners through an outdoor wedding reception. A man hugs and kisses another man on the cheek.

Page last updated May 2, 2009

College Road Trip Parents' Guide

Why is it difficult for some parents when their children leave home? What kind of preparations could make for an easier transition?

Why is Melanie unable to talk to her dad? How does the road trip change their relationship?

What role does trust play in parent-child interactions?

The most recent home video release of College Road Trip movie is July 14, 2008. Here are some details…

DVD Release Date: 15 July 2008

Hitch a ride on this College Road Trip and do some sightseeing with an alternate opening and ending, bloopers and deleted scenes (with optional commentary by Raven-Symone). Learn more about the trip’s itinerary with Raven’s Video Diary, and audio commentaries (one by director Roger Kumble and actor Raven Symone, and the other with screenwriters Emi Mochizuki and Carrie Evans). The tour also offers a featurette ( On the Set: Double Dutch Bus ) and a music video (with Raven-Symone). Audio tracks are available in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround (English) and Dolby Surround (French), with subtitles in French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

Along with her television work in “That’s So Raven”, Raven-Symone starred in Princess Diary 2: The Role Engagement and lent her vocal talents to characters in Everyone’s Hero and Fat Albert .

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College Road Trip

March 7, 2008

Comedy, Family, Live Action

Ambitious and confident Melanie Porter is eagerly looking forward to her first big step towards independence – a girls-only road trip to check out colleges. But this rite of passage takes a wrong turn when her overprotective father insists on escorting her instead, and Melanie's dream trip quickly turns into a nightmare of wild and wacky curves.

Rated: G Release Date: March 7, 2008

Directed By

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College Road Trip Trailer

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College road trip.

As family road trip movies go, Disney's "College Road Trip" is a longer and more arduous journey than even "RV" or "Are We There Yet?" On the other hand, those movies performed well at the boxoffice.

By Kirk Honeycutt , The Associated Press March 6, 2008 8:00pm

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As family road trip movies go, Disney’s “College Road Trip” is a longer and more arduous journey than even “RV” or “Are We There Yet?” On the other hand, those movies performed well at the boxoffice.

Families seem to be extremely tolerant of taxing movie car trips. Perhaps the trick is that everyone is simply glad it’s happening to another family and not theirs.

The Bottom Line Empty

This excursion teams Martin Lawrence with Disney Channel star Raven-Symone. You wouldn’t want to accuse either performer of subtlety, but here the two seem to be in a contest to outdo each other with screams, facial contortions and wails of exasperation. Let’s call it a draw.

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What is puzzling is the incompatibility of the two leads with their roles. Raven is supposed to be a high school senior on a road trip to check out prospective universities. But she acts like a adolescent on a sugar high during a weekend sleepover. Lawrence plays a small-town police chief, one who borrows and totals a squad car, sneaks into a college women’s dorm and acts like no cop you’ve ever seen, in or out of movies.

What Lawrence’s James Porter is, in fact, is the worst-case scenario of a control-freak dad: He will not let his precious girl grow up and live an independent life. Despite this, Raven’s Melanie Porter is sweet-natured and obedient though her dad does drive her nuts.

Dad wants her to go to Northwestern — because it’s a short drive from their Illinois home. When an opportunity to apply to Georgetown comes up, Melanie joins two friends (Disney Channel actors Brenda Song and Margo Harshman) on a road trip to D.C.

But Dad decides to escort Melanie himself. Then her younger brother (Eshaya Draper) and his pet pig stowaway in the trunk. It’s hard for a girl to grow up in a Disney family film. The pet tricks by this extremely well-trained animal provide a running gag that culminates in his crashing a hotel wedding and essentially destroying everything under its tent.

Nothing happens with any logic here. The destruction of the police cruiser, the wedding turmoil, a skydiving episode and a golf course duel with clubs and carts all happen because the road trip needs a bit of excitement, not because anything leads rationally to these incidents.

Direction by Roger Kumble is as hamfisted as the screenplay by four writers is shorn of any sense of how families actually behave.

COLLEGE ROAD TRIP Buena Vista Pictures Walt Disney Pictures presents a Gunnfilm production Credits: Director: Roger Kumble Screenwriters: Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Evans, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio Producer: Andrew Gunn Executive producers: Ann Marie Sanderlin, Anthony Katagas, Raven-Symone, Michael Green Director of photography: Theo van de Sande Production designer: Ben Barraud Music: Edward Shearmur Costume designer: Francine Jamison-Tanchuck Editor: Roger Bondelli Cast: James Porter: Martin Lawrence Melanie: Raven-Symone Doug: Donny Osmond Nancy: Brenda Song Trey: Eshaya Drapper Michelle: Kym E. Whitley Grandma Porter: Arnetia Walker Katie: Margo Harshman Wendy: Molly Ephraim Running time — 84 minutes MPAA rating: G

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Metacritic reviews

College road trip.

• 63 The Globe and Mail (Toronto) The Globe and Mail (Toronto) You know a movie has taken a very strange turn when you find yourself eagerly awaiting the next appearance by Donny Osmond.
• 58 Entertainment Weekly Entertainment Weekly At its best when it drops any pretense of plot for sheer goof (as when a Japanese sightseer belts ''Sister Christian'' on a karaoke tour bus), and at its worst when Lawrence manages to out-ham even his porky four-legged costar.
• 50 Variety Justin Chang Variety Justin Chang This overplayed, underachieving laffer feels thoroughly manufactured to Disney specifications.
• 40 L.A. Weekly L.A. Weekly Lawrence's descent from hyperactive foulmouth to G-rated father figure has been in evidence for years now, but watching director Roger Kumble move from flawed but juicy projects like "Cruel Intentions" to pap like this is a depressing career development.
• 40 Washington Post Washington Post Perhaps there will be people who do laugh at Lawrence and Raven-Symon screaming in tandem, or mugging their way along every tortured mile of their road trip, or unwittingly joining a sky-diving club and having to parachute into Washington so Melanie can make her interview. Heck, it was all really funny when they did it on "I Love Lucy."
• 40 The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt What is puzzling is the incompatibility of the two leads with their roles. Raven is supposed to be a high school senior on a road trip to check out prospective universities. But she acts like a adolescent on a sugar high during a weekend sleepover.
• 40 The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis The New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis Eyes popping and mouths agape, Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symoné mug their way through College Road Trip as if it were a silent movie -- which, come to think of it, would have been a lot less irritating.
• 38 Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips As generic as its title, College Road Trip feels like a first draft, the one the studio brings to the rewrite team that, in this case, never got hired.
• 25 TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh TV Guide Magazine Maitland McDonagh Lawrence runs through his usual repertory of mugging, seething and generally acting like a fool, only to be regularly upstaged by Arnold, Trey's pet piglet.
• 25 USA Today Claudia Puig USA Today Claudia Puig The tagline for College Road Trip is "You Can't Get There Fast Enough." But for those who sit through this humorless and massively predictable movie, a more apt phrase would be: "You Can't Get Out of There Fast Enough."
• See all 20 reviews on Metacritic.com
• See all external reviews for College Road Trip

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College Road Trip

Time Out says

Release details.

• Release date: Friday 22 August 2008
• Duration: 83 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Roger Kumble
• Screenwriter: Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Evans, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio
• Martin Lawrence
• Donny Osmond
• Kym E. Whitley
• Vincent Pastore
• Raven Symoné

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Where to watch

College road trip.

Directed by Roger Kumble

They can't get there fast enough.

When an overachieving high school student decides to travel around the country to choose the perfect college, her overprotective cop father also decides to accompany her in order to keep her on the straight and narrow.

Martin Lawrence Raven-Symoné Kym Whitley Brenda Song Margo Harshman Donny Osmond Molly Ephraim Will Sasso Geneva Carr Lucas Grabeel Adam LeFevre Eugene Jones III Matthew Schlein Eshaya Draper Na'Kia Bell Smith Josh Meyers Lonny Ross Vincent Pastore Joseph R. Gannascoli Edward James Hyland

Director Director

Roger Kumble

Producers Producers

Andrew Gunn Darice Rollins

Writers Writers

Carrie Evans Ken Daurio Cinco Paul Emi Mochizuki

Casting Casting

Gail Goldberg Marcia Ross Jennifer Euston

Editor Editor

Roger Bondelli

Cinematography Cinematography

Theo van de Sande

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Francisco Ortiz

Additional Directing Add. Directing

Craig Haagensen

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Raven-Symoné Ann Marie Sanderlin Michael Green Anthony Katagas

Production Design Production Design

Ben Barraud

Art Direction Art Direction

Doug Huszti

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Catherine Davis

Stunts Stunts

Manny Siverio Tina Mckissick Joanna Shelmidine Nicole Callender

Composer Composer

Ed Shearmur

Sound Sound

Robert L. Sephton David E. Fluhr Myron Nettinga Adam Kopald Randle Akerson Tom Nelson Brian Dinkins

Costume Design Costume Design

Francine Jamison-Tanchuck

Walt Disney Pictures Gunn Films

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

English Spanish

Releases by Date

07 mar 2008, 22 aug 2008, 02 jun 2010, 06 may 2009, 26 jan 2009, 11 feb 2009, releases by country.

• Theatrical U
• Theatrical 0

Netherlands

• Physical 6 DVD
• Theatrical AP
• Theatrical G

83 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by ty ★★★★

The Double Dutch Bus slaps and this is still a timeless classic

Review by chloe 💓 ★★

that bus singalong scene invented cinema

Review by ⋆ ˚｡ belis ˚｡⋆ ★★½

i remember watching this when i was very young and thinking “omg my dad will be like this when its my turn”. turns out i was the one who didnt want to go far 😮‍💨

Raven is so 🫶🏻 i wish we had more movies with her

movie #21 on my 30 days only watching Disney+ Challenge

Review by alex ★½

I watched College Road Trip on a college road trip. Fuck me.

Review by Ellie 👽 ★★★

Nothing says "This is a Disney Movie" like a pet pig

Review by jalene!!! ★★★

get me on a double dutch bus asap

Review by Gracie Cliff ★★★★★

I was STABBED in the EYE at GEORGETOWNNN This movie is golden and it is my childhood.

Review by Emma ★

oh the things we endure for our lord and saviour donny osmond

Review by Ahmed ★★★

Gotta admit, it's odd seeing Martin Lawrence in a G-rated Disney movie*.

Yes, it's predictable, a little cheesy, and some of the gags don't work as well as they should. However... I'd be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. Martin and Raven were fun to watch as a father/daughter team, plus they made me laugh (Martin's facial expressions especially). Donny Osmond added more humor as the corny dad embarking on a similar journey**. All in all, it was an amusing film.

* In hindsight, it's weird that a film about a college road trip IS rated G.

** That ending is hilarious.

Review by reed 📽️ ★★★★ 3

anything Raven touches turns to gold!! We stan (and have for FOREVER!) This is a classic in our house! 😌

Review by janee ★★½

another recommendation from my father because i move into college TOMORROW

Review by RobertoBJacome✝️ ★★★★ 4

Attack of the killer Disney Channel Movie. I have watched this when I was young, but forgot most of it... What an absolute joy ride.

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College Road Trip (2008) / Comedy-Family MPAA Rated: G, suitable for all audiences Running time: 83 min Cast: Martin Lawrence, Raven-Symone, Kym Whitley, Eshaya Draper, Donny Osmond, Molly Ephraim, Ametia Walker, Brenda Song, Margo Harshman, Will Sasso, Michael Landes Cameo: Vincent Pastore Director: Roger Kumble Screenplay: Emi Mochizuki, Carrie Evans, Cinco Paul, Ken Daurio Review published December 28, 2008 Raven-Symone ( Dr. Dolittle , Dr. Dolittle 2 ), who serves as one of the film's executive producers, plays Melanie, an Illinois high school student on her way to choosing a college to start her career in prelaw, most likely one that will finally get her far away from her control freak police chief father, James (Lawrence, Wild Hogs ).  Daddy, of course, wants her to stay close to home and go to Northwestern University, less than a half hour drive away, while Melanie has her eyes set on the Washington DC area's Georgetown, which would mean a trip of hundreds of miles.  When Melanie decides she's going to hit the road with her friends and check out potential colleges, James believes it his duty to escort her, not only so that he can make sure she stays out of trouble, but also so that he can influence her decision to go to the university he wants her to go to.  As James does whatever he can to bond with his daughter, the more she pulls away, while both traverse kooky new environs and situations that alternately strain the relationship or cause them to unite.   This by-the-numbers comedy delivers a story path about as generic as its title.  What should have been a straight-to-Disney-Channel release mystifyingly ends up on the big screen, probably due to the casting of Martin Lawrence.  Although Lawrence is fine as the gung-ho father, this is a G-rated flick, which means that fans of Lawrence's lewd and crude form of humor will not really see this as one of his typical vehicles, and will probably avoid.  Clichés abound, as College Road Trip feels like a conglomeration of elements from the last 25 years of road trip and family vacation comedies.  Family friendly fare is Lawrence's new territory of late, coming after other notable attempts such as Rebound and Open Season .  While fans may find him somewhat less appealing, given how poor many of his R-rated film choices had become, I suppose we can look at the silver lining of this very ominous cloud and be thankful that we can sit through a Martin Lawrence flick and not be grossed out by repetitive flatulence for laughs.  This isn't new territory at all for co-star Raven-Symone, a graduate of "The Cosby Show" all grown up now as a seasoned vet of Disney TV fare, such as her own popular show, "That's So Raven."  She knows what her fans come to expect out of her -- a great deal of energy, singing, dancing, and pleasantness -- and she delivers all of it in abundance.   If Lawrence's fans will call for their check early, Raven-Symone's will stick around for dessert and post-dinner conversation. It's probably easy to slam a film like College Road Trip for being nothing but commercialized fluff, as it is not much more than a low-concept vehicle (despite the screenplay credited to FOUR screenwriters!) constructed as a springboard for Raven-Symone to make the leap from small screen to big.  The best one can say for the film, which holds for most live action Disney productions, is that it is innocuous enough for most adults to sit through if their young children are intent on forcing a viewing with the entire family.  That's not exactly high praise, but given that the aim of the film isn't aspiring any higher than that, one can claim it achieves its intended result by delivering the non-offensive, non-thought provoking, feel-good junk food filler that small screen Disney fans have come to know and love. No surprise that the characterizations are straight from the TV sitcom playbook.  The mother is the only normal character in the family.  The younger brother (Draper, Cadillac Records ) is some sort of science prodigy with a knack for getting into, and out of, trouble.  There is a cute pet tagalong in a young pig with a mind that rivals most humans (his intelligence alone helps him solve a Rubik's Cube, though he lacks the adequate digits to turn the squares.)  Would-be boyfriends all look like they've jumped out of an L.L. Bean catalog.  Kooky supporting characters abound, with requisite hops aboard a bus full of Asian tourists who delight us with their "engrish" accents.  Donny Osmond ( Goin' Coconuts ) makes a lively recurring appearance as the exuberant father who, much like the tagalong couple in The Sure Thing , drives his hosts crazy by being highly spirited and singing show tunes with his daughter (Ephraim, Hench at Home ).  While the actors are game, this is anemic material all around, as easily consumed as it is forgotten soon afterward.  If you are still at an age or state of mentality where eavesdropping under beds, food fights, and forced skydiving are the heights of comedic bliss, there may actually be a movie here for you.  Everyone else will feel like this is warmed-over goods without an original plot point or characterization to be found.  It's the equivalent of taking night classes at the local post-secondary community college out of convenience rather than make the sacrifice of looking for more challenging pursuits elsewhere.   Qwipster's rating : © 2008 Vince Leo

College Road Trip

Reviewed by: Mia J. Best CONTRIBUTOR

Fear, Anxiety and Worry… What does the Bible say? Answer

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“They just can’t get there fast enough.”

Here’s what the distributor says about their film: “Choosing which college to go to can be the most exciting and thrilling time of a young woman’s life, unless your overprotective father isn’t quite ready to let you go. In the Disney family comedy COLLEGE ROAD TRIP, Melanie (Raven Symone) is eagerly looking forward to her first big step towards independence when she plans a ‘girls only’ road trip to check out prospective universities. But when her overbearing police chief father ( Martin Lawrence ) insists on escorting her instead, she soon finds her dream trip has turned into a hilarious nightmare adventure full of comical misfortune and turmoil.”

T he comedy is broad, the hi-jinks are outlandish, and the slap-stick is of the Lucille Ball variety in Disney’s G-rated film, “College Road Trip,” starring Martin Lawrence and Raven Symone. Disney doesn’t disappoint its core audience of families with toddlers and “tweenagers” (children between the ages of 9-12) with its predictable formula for comedy—loving family with beautiful female lead, check; comedic father (usually clueless), check; genius younger sibling, check; super intelligent animal, check; and friends from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, check. But even though much of the dialogue is cliche, and the jokes are familiar, they still provoke belly-tickling laughter.

The movie opens with James Porter (Lawrence) narrating about a father’s fear of losing his little girl, which he thinks can be managed with obsessive planning. So since his daughter, Melanie (Raven) was just a baby, her dad, who happens to be the police chief, has tactically mapped out her life the way one would plan an undercover sting operation. His plan for keeping his little girl safe and close to home after high school is for her to attend nearby Northwestern University. The conflict is that Melanie, an aspiring lawyer, has a chance to interview for admission at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, which is more than 600 miles from home.

James’ fears are heightened when he overhears his coworkers bragging about their wild college days. So rather than let Melanie ride to Georgetown with her friends, he ambushes her by organizing his own “father-daughter” college road trip with a few strategic (and some genuine) surprises along the way. Melanie’s mother Michelle (Kim E. Whitely) stays at home while her little brother Trey (Eshaya Draper) stows away with his pet pig Albert.

It is refreshing it is to see Martin Lawrence , who built much of his comedic career on crass humor laced with profanity, as a caring, albeit overprotective, father. This is a polar opposite to the character in Lawrence’s other 2008 release “ Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins .” Lawrence and Raven are both veterans with physical comedy and play well as father and daughter. But it’s the pet pig Albert that garners some of the heartiest laughs.

Special guest star Donny Osmond plays Doug, an exuberant, show-tune-singing father along with his college bound daughter Wendy (Molly Ephraim). This duo’s enthusiasm is played to the extreme-sport level, as if they are competing for a gold medal of optimism. And, though jarring at first, their characters become endearing by the end of the film.

The film’s message to parents is to realize that your babies will grow up, and eventually you have to trust them to make their own decisions.

There is tremendous pressure on parents to worry about their children. When a child prepares to go to college, parents are expected to experience separation anxiety. Worry can turn a sound mind into a fearful and paranoid one, like Lawrence’s character James Porter. But the Bible clearly tells us that fear, which is another form of worry or anxiety , is not of God .

The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God did not give us a spirit of fear , and in 1 John 4:18 that perfect love casts out all fear, because fear has torment. God does not bless us with children to be in torment. And Jesus taught that worry is wasted energy, in Matthew 6:27 when he said,

“Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not.” —(NLT)

For parents who may be tempted to worry about their children, Proverbs 22:6 reassures us that if we teach our children to choose the right path, when they are older, they will remain upon it.

Each child has a purpose. Psalm 139:13 says that God knew us in our mother’s womb before we were born. Just like Jesus , each of us is born with a purpose. If parents raise their children in the way they should go, which is teaching them to live a godly life, then they must trust God to take them the rest of the way and help them discover their purpose.

I would recommend this movie for Christian audiences for its appeal to all families and its moviemaking quality. I do not recall the Lord’s name taken in vain once or the use of any profanity throughout the film. The violence was limited to two characters getting shocked by a Taser and a comedic duel with golf clubs. The closest thing to a sexual reference was Melanie finding a male character attractive. Melanie did, however, lie to her father once and did not show remorse for it. This was her way of acting out against his controlling nature.

In Ephesians 6:1 the Bible tells children to obey their parents. And in that same chapter in verse 4 , it instructs fathers not to provoke their children to wrath. The Message Bible states it this way,

“Fathers, don’t exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.”

By the end of the film, James comes to terms with the fact that his little girl Melanie is no longer little and begins to listen to her plans rather than trying to institute his plans.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: None / Sex/Nudity: None

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College Road Trip

Watch on these services.

• Boxoffice Magazine Amy Nicholson James' outlandish ruses to make his firstborn a Wildcat are fun; the push-pull parent-child dynamic generic, but sweet. But the writers comedy failsafe is "Cut to the pig!"
• AV Club Nathan Rabin Martin Lawrence's long, sad devolution from the poor man's young Eddie Murphy to the poor man's late-period Eddie Murphy continues.
• Chicago Sun-Times Darel Jevens College Road Trip is the best Martin Lawrence/Raven-Symone/Donny Osmond vehicle ever made.
• Boston Globe Ethan Gilsdorf It's a dark day indeed when a movie's funniest moments involve Donny Osmond.
• New York Times Jeannette Catsoulis Eyes popping and mouths agape, Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symon mug their way through College Road Trip as if it were a silent movie -- which, come to think of it, would have been a lot less irritating.
• Philadelphia Inquirer David Hiltbrand The whole project is a cloying, artificial mess. The slapstick comedy doesn't bite, and the formulaic sentimentality doesn't grip. This is strictly phi beta crappa.
• New York Post Kyle Smith College Road Trip is better than most Martin Lawrence movies -- much as strep throat is better than malaria.
• Austin Chronicle Steve Davis A Disney production that would seemingly be more at home on the Disney Channel than in the local multiplex.
• MovieFreak.com Sara Michelle Fetters Look, I realize a movie like College Road Trip isn't rocket science, but does it really have to play to such a dimwittedly low level that non-kid audiences are going to be in pain watching it?
• Ebert & Roeper Richard Roeper It is genuinely, consistently, indisputably putrid.
• Chicago Reader Andrea Gronvall The comedian Sinbad once said that Hollywood seeks out original talents but then tries to make them just like everyone else. A case in point is Martin Lawrence.
• Entertainment Weekly Adam Markovitz College Road Trip is at its best when it drops any pretense of plot for sheer goof, and at its worst when Lawrence manages to out-ham even his porky four-legged costar.
• Seattle Times Ted Fry Even Donny Osmond's sparkling teeth seem a little dim compared with the unsullied gleam the movie presents as real life.
• Washington Post John Anderson Not that we expected much, when all is said and done. But College Road Trip ran out of ideas just after they came up with the title and had the inevitable meeting.
• San Francisco Chronicle Walter V. Addiego There's a nice pro-education theme struggling to emerge from oceans of clumsy humor here, so let's be generous and say the movie deserves about a C-minus.
• Slant Magazine Ed Gonzalez College Road Trip hurts more than just the eyes and ears, it wreaks havoc on one's humane sensibilities.
• Beliefnet Nell Minow [The] plot would make even the lightweight storylines of "That's So Raven" seem literary. It would make the lightweight storylines of a Bazooka Joe comic strip seem literary.
• USA Today Claudia Puig College Road Trip is nearly as hellish as taking a long trip with a bus full of karaoke-happy tourists. Actually, that's one of the gags.
• Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt Families seem to be extremely tolerant of taxing movie car trips. Perhaps the trick is that everyone is simply glad it's happening to another family and not theirs.

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© Jared Anderson - Louisville Report

7th Inning Stretch: The Final Road Trip (Week 13)

On the heels of a much needed perfect week of baseball, the Cardinals are embarking on their final road games of the regular season.

• Author: Matthew McGavic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - For the first time since the first week of March, the Louisville baseball program was able to post a perfect 4-0 week.

The Cardinals (29-18, 13-11 ACC) got the week started with a midweek win over Northern Kentucky, then kicked off a seven-game road trip with a three-game sweep over Boston College.

In a vacuum, taking down these two opponents might not be a big deal. But in the grand scheme of the postseason, it was a massive development. With Louisville entering the week sitting on the outside of the NCAA Tournament bubble, they absolutely needed to start stacking ACC wins, and wins overall to boost their RPI.

Pulling off a clean sweep over the Norse and Eagles was a much, much needed first step in terms of inserting themselves back into NCAA Tournament discussion. Additionally, Louisville was able to officially clinch a spot in the ACC Tournament, so there's no fear that the Cardinals could miss out on postseason baseball in its entirety.

Perhaps most importantly is that Louisville's season-long pitching issues could finally be turning a corner. Colton Hartman stepped up to be a potential go-to third starter in the rotation with the season winding down, and the bullpen - for the most part - held up their end of the deal.

Of course, there's still work to be done. However, Louisville has a fantastic late-season opportunity in front of the them. They'll play their final true road games of the regular season this week, facing Vanderbilt in the annual Battle for the Barrel and then heading to North Carolina.

Go at least .500 in these four games this week, and Louisville's chances at earning an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament will take another big step forward.

News & Notes

• Louisville remains unranked in of all of the five major collegiate baseball polls.
• Gavin Kilen ranks No. 24 nationally in doubles with 19, and No. 25 in th NCAA's "Toughest to Strike Out" metric
• J.T. Benson ranks No. 6 nationally in stolen bases with 31, and No. 26 in sacrifice flies with six.
• Zion Rose ranks No. 8 nationally in triples with five.
• Sebastian Gongora and Evan Webster are tied for No. 19 nationally in pitching starts with 12.

The Week Ahead

Away (Hawkins Field - Nashville, Tenn.)

• Tuesday, May Thursday 7 at 7:00pm vs. Vanderbilt (ESPN2/93.9 The Ville)

Away (Boshamer Stadium - Chapel Hill, N.C.)

• Friday, May 10 at 6:00pm vs. North Carolina (ACC Network Extra/93.9 The Ville)
• Saturday, May 11 at 12:00pm vs. North Carolina (ACC Network Extra/93.9 The Ville)
• Sunday, May 12 at 12:00pm vs. North Carolina (ACC Network/93.9 The Ville)

Know The Foe

Vanderbilt Commodores

Head Coach (school record):  Tim Corbin (915-436-1) 2024 Record (conference record):  32-16 (11-13) All-Time Series Record:  Vanderbilt Leads 28-12

Top Performers (Hitters):

• INF Jonathan Vastine (48 GP, 48 GS) : .313/.405/.558, 7 HR, 33 RBI, 15 2B, 2 3B, 23 BB, 9 SB
• C Alan Espinal (46 GP, 46 GS) : .301/.412/.536, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 12 2B, 27 BB, 3 SB
• UTIL R.J Austin (47 GP, 47 GS) : .314/.386/.455, 5 HR, 47 RBI, 8 2B, 2 3B, 19 BB, 21 SB

Top Performers (Pitchers):

• LHP Carter Holton (12 APP, 11 GS) : 4.88 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 62.2 IP, 89 K, 23 BB, .222 B/AVG
• RHP Brennan Seiber (17 APP, 1 GS) : 3.48 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 31.0 IP, 32 K, 11 BB, .189 B/AVG, 4 SV
• LHP Miller Green (15 APP, 0 GS) : 2.19 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 26 K, 8 BB, .200 B/AVG, 2 SV

North Carolina Tar Heels

Head Coach (school record):  Scott Forbes (141-84) 2024 Record (conference record):  35-11 (17-7) All-Time Series Record:  North Carolina Leads 9-7

• INF Parks Harber (43 GP, 43 GS) : .366/.447/.733, 17 HR, 51 RBI, 6 2B, 1 3B, 26 BB, 4 SB
• OF Vance Honeycutt (45 GP, 45 GS) : .330/.430/.709, 18 HR, 50 RBI, 10 2B, 2 3B, 28 BB, 26 SB
• OF Casey Cook (46 GP, 46 GS) : .341/.431/.604, 13 HR, 60 RBI, 7 2B, 1 3B, 26 BB, 6 SB
• LHP Shea Sprague (11 APP, 9 GS) : 3.40 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 50.1 IP, 45 K, 9 BB, .267 B/AVG
• RHP Jason DeCaro (11 APP, 11 GS) : 3.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 56.0 IP, 51 K, 27 BB, .231 B/AVG
• LHP Dalton Pence (25 APP, 0 GS) : 1.75 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 36.0 IP, 46 K, 19 BB, .159 B/AVG

Statistical Breakdown

Rankings and Records:

Louisville Baseball Preview 2024 Week 13 (Stats)

Matthew McGavic

Louisville Baseball Preview 2024 Week 13 (Hitting)

Louisville Baseball Preview 2024 Week 13 (Pitching)

(Photo of Carson Liggett: Jared Anderson - Louisville Report)

You can follow Louisville Report for future coverage by liking us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: Facebook - @LouisvilleReport Twitter - @UofLReport Instagram - @louisville_report You can also follow Deputy Editor Matthew McGavic at  @Matt_McGavic  on Twitter

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Nick Schroeder’s perfect day includes a show in South Paris and vintage shopping in Biddeford

The communications manager for Space and member of Mad Horse Theatre Company would also make Rockland and several Portland shops part of the itinerary.

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Nick Schroeder, 42, of Portland, is communications manager and multidisciplinary programmer for Space, a nonprofit arts venue in Portland. He’s also an actor, director and ensemble member with Mad Horse Theatre Company in South Portland. A native of Old Orchard Beach, he’s worked as a journalist and editor at several local publications.

As much as I like bopping around the state by myself, I’ll spend my perfect Maine day with my partner, Mallory, and our nearly 3-year-old toddler. The kid’s in the stage of life where she asks why to just about everything, and that question makes for good conversation.

Getting dressed (finding pants, socks, etc. and negotiating their deployment) can take a while in my house, so we’ll put on WMPG to keep the energy loose. I’ll pour a good cup of coffee, Speckled Ax Early Riser preferred , in my clunky travel mug. Then we’ll get things cracking at that one real good climbing tree in the park for a little proprioceptive rinse. The branches are real low to the ground and I don’t have to worry about my kid taking any nasty falls.

The Palace Diner in Biddeford. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Will Zu Bakery still have croissants by now, or is that too much morning meandering? The neighbors tend to swarm the little West End spot – how is it this good? – and it can quickly sell out. If that’s the case, we’ll drive south. Actually, scratch that – Mallory will drive this leg, and I’ll bike. Our destinations will be the same, Palace Diner (in Biddeford). I’ll have the omelet du jour and those great big potatoes, and maybe a bite of my kid’s pancake – the dad handbook clearly states that you must eat your children’s leftovers. We’ll all poke our heads inside Biddeford Vintage Market and see what new vendors they’ve got (my aunt Barb runs the place with some friends) before making a quick spin into Color.Sound.Oblivion to check their newly stocked records.

The Basico – an arepa stuffed with chicken, cheese and pico de gallo – with a side of pan de bono and a cup of verduritas (spicy green sauce) from Maiz in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

With family who live nearby, I’ll be able to ditch the bike and hop into the car, heading north. We’ll stop in Portland to grab a couple of arepas for the road from the outrageously good Colombian food restaurant Maïz, and head to South Paris. In this fantasy, the Celebration Barn has a perfectly timed matinee show, and true to form, it’s equally enchanting for kids and adults.

The Celebration Barn in South Paris. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

After that, we’ll drive to Rockland (here’s where the kid naps) and head to a beach (any beach) before I pop into Curator , one of few consignment shops that bothers to stock nice stuff for tall fellas. Then it’s over to Rock City Cafe for a refill and a poke around Hello Hello Books behind the cafe. Last time, I found a nice used paperback of a Judy Chicago biography. Will I get this lucky again?

A stack of books at Print: A Bookstore in Portland. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer

Returning to Portland, we’ll have had our fill of driving and Raffi sing-alongs. It’s time for our A-list East End retail trifecta – Ferdinand  for handmade wonders, Starry Eyes  for snazzy kids’ stuff, and Print: A Bookstore (more books!).

For dinner, the ideal is Asmara , the great Eritrean gem, where we as a family can share big communal plates of colorful food using only our hands as utensils. After we put the kid to bed, I’ll text a friend, and if his kid’s asleep, too, we can sneak out for a little nightcap at the Continental and discuss the news.

How would you spend your perfect Maine day? Send your itinerary, in 500 words or less, with a little about yourself, to [email protected] .

A Belhaven beer, a Negroni and a pint of Guinness at The Continental in Portland. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer

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• America’s Best Small Towns 2023 Overview: America’s Best Small Towns 2023
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America's Best Small Beach Town Is an Old Florida Gem With Crystal-clear Waters and a Scenic Bike Path

Old Florida meets laid-back island living in elegant Boca Grande.

• The Best Times to Visit

Things to Do

Where to stay, where to eat and drink, where to shop, how to get there.

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While the state of Florida welcomes almost 140 million visitors each year, only a small portion of them make their way to serene Gasparilla Island and its main hub, Boca Grande. This upscale yet down-to-earth community on the Gulf of Mexico is just the right amount of under-the-radar, except when it comes to its role as “tarpon capital of the world."

In the words of Nikki Heimann, manager of The Pink Pony — an island-favorite ice cream shop opened in 1988 by her grandfather — the stoplight- and franchise-free community is “like stepping back in time.”

“Our beaches are stunningly clean and our water is usually clear and sparkling, with a bountiful variety of sea life,” she says. “A big allure is game fishing in our deep-water pass for tarpon. We have two well-maintained historical lighthouses with a museum and state park on the south end, and a smooth bike path that runs the whole length of the island, so many people enjoy renting a golf cart or bicycle to spend the day cruising around. It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for peace, tranquility, and quiet time.”

Beyond its looks, Boca Grande is resilient — along with much of Southwest Florida, especially Sanibel and Captiva islands to the south, it was devastated by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The Pink Pony reopened soon after the storm, but other establishments were not so fortunate. “Many iconic features of our landscape are gone forever," Heimann says. "Everyone around here has their story and struggle that they’re going through. We are just thankful we didn’t get washed out.”

Back in action, Boca Grande remains a captivating place to visit — a tranquil respite from the frenetic pace of our modern world (and many parts of Florida) with a beachy, small-town allure. In fact, Travel + Leisure rated it the best small beach town in the country in 2023. Find out why for yourself by exploring the village by golf cart, bike, or your own two feet.

Nikki Heimann, The Pink Pony

It’s a great place to visit if you’re looking for peace, tranquility, and quiet time.

Ben Krut/Getty Images

The Best Times to Visit 

Like many beach towns in Florida , Boca Grande is a seasonal destination. “Most people enjoy coming to the island during our busy ‘social season’ when the town is bustling with activity and the Florida sunshine is a delightful reprieve from the winter snow up north,” Heimann says. This period lasts from approximately Thanksgiving to spring break.

“Then, we roll into tarpon season, when the fishing families come to town and enjoy the island through summertime,” she continues. “Many downtown businesses close during August and September, so that’d be the time to come if you like to sweat in solitude.”

While mid- to late summer is a crowd-free, quieter time in Boca Grande, you may have trouble securing a stay, as the Gasparilla Inn closes annually from mid-July to early October. However, other hotels stay open, and there are assorted vacation rentals available. When planning your visit, remember that the best time to visit Florida , in general, is spring and winter as hurricane season lasts from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year, so there’s always a chance of storms during the summer and fall. 

Getty Images

As one might expect of America’s best small beach town, the best things to do in Boca Grande are in, around, or on the water — namely, fishing, shelling, boating, beaches, and biking. Heimann says the No. 1 thing she recommends is not so much an activity but an experience: enjoying a sunset either on the beach or a paddleboard. Other things to do include climbing the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (known locally as the “range light”) and heading to Gasparilla Island State Park for swimming, snorkeling, or fishing. Keep an eye out for the tarpon that often jump and roll in the deep waters of Boca Grande Pass. Or, for more tarpon time, go during the annual World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament , a tradition dating back to the early 1980s. Thousands of dollars in prize money is on the (literal) line.

You can see much of what Gasparilla Island has to offer on the Boca Grande Bike Path . The island is only seven miles long and a half-mile across at its widest point, and this 6.5-mile path runs past highlights like Banyan Street, the Boca Grande Historical Society , and the pretty-in-pink Johann Fust Community Library . The north end is close to Glass Bottom Rentals , where Heimann recommends renting a clear kayak to paddle around the old railroad trestles nearby.

Try to score an invite to the members-only Useppa Island ; otherwise, a day trip to Cayo Costa should scratch the island-adventure itch. It’s accessible only via boat or kayak, with a ferry service available from several mainland locations.

Courtesy of The Gasparilla Inn & Club

Gasparilla Inn & Club 

The Gasparilla Inn & Club represents old Florida at its finest, striking the perfect balance between ritzy and relaxed. The inn has a variety of accommodation options, from rooms and suites in The Main Inn to private cottages and two- to four-bedroom villas. Guests can take part in a range of activities, from golf to croquet, fitness classes, and spa treatments. The inn has four eateries — just be sure to pack with the dress code in mind.

Boca Grande Hotel

The quaint Boca Grande Hotel offers more laid-back accommodations on the north end of Gasparilla Island, near Uncle Henry’s Marina , but the closest public beach access is three miles away. The property has an outdoor pool, loungers that you can rent out and bring with you to the beach, and a guest laundromat for cleaning up before you repack your suitcase. Next door, you can grab a deli sandwich or ice cream from Kappy’s Market .

The Palmetto Inn

A sister to the Boca Grande Hotel, The Palmetto Inn is located in the Downtown Boca Grande Historic District and just a short walk from the beach. Built as a private residence in 1900, it’s now a charming inn with seven suites and some of the lowest in-season rates on the island.

The Innlet on the Waterfront

Located on the waters of the Boca Grande Bayou, The Innlet on the Waterfront is an unfussy charmer with about 30 waterfront and courtyard-facing rooms. Amenities include a pool, on-site restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, plus a full-service marina if you BYOB (Florida-speak for "bring your own boat"). Be on the lookout for manatees as you enjoy your breakfast on the patio of The Outlet.

Gasparilla Inn

Guests of the Gasparilla Inn will be delighted to find that its restaurants are some of Boca Grande’s best. It has an elegant main dining room (open for breakfast and dinner), the casual Pink Elephant (open for lunch and dinner), and the atmospheric BZ’s, where the public and guests alike can enjoy beverages and snacks while taking in views of The Gasparilla Golf Club and Charlotte Harbor. The Beach Club is another favorite for poolside beverages and lunch but is reserved for inn guests and members only.

The Temptation Restaurant 

To experience Boca Grande like a local, order the fish of the day at The Temptation Restaurant . Signature dishes include crab cakes served with roasted shrimp sauce and pan-fried lemony-garlic snapper, while the daily special might be blackened tripletail or chargrilled pompano. The wine list is equally impressive.

Scarpa’s Coastal

Sister to the beloved, family-owned Scarpa’s Italian in Lakeland, Scarpa’s Coastal serves fresh Florida seafood with an Italian flair. It also offers an extensive wine menu with bottles imported from Napa Valley and Italy. Patrons rave about the crab cakes, pasta, and chicken dishes.

Eagle Grille and Miller’s Dockside at Boca Grande Marina

The Boca Grande Marina is home to two restaurants, Eagle Grille and Miller’s Dockside . At Eagle Grille, you’ll find a quieter setting with second-floor waterfront views, while Miller’s Dockside has a sports bar atmosphere right on the water. They have the same menu, full of fresh coastal cuisine like oysters, Gulf grouper, and shrimp.

Sisters Restaurant

It’s not vacation unless you go out for pizza at least once, and Sisters Restaurant is the place to do it. This homey spot offers classic Italian comfort foods to eat indoors or out — and, yes, it really is owned by twin sisters.

The Pink Pony

What’s a beach day without a stop for ice cream? The best place to grab a sweet treat is The Pink Pony, the kind of hometown ice cream shop that once rented out movies on VHS and developed photo film. Things are different now, but visitors can continue at least one generations-old Boca Grande tradition and stop in for hand-dipped Amish ice cream, sorbets, specialty sundaes, shaved ice, all-fruit smoothies, açaí bowls, and coffee drinks. The Pink Pony also has snacks, beer, wine, bagged ice, and souvenirs. And don’t miss Tortuga , the outdoor walk-up window serving authentic Mexican food behind the storefront.

Boca Grande has local, family-owned shops selling souvenirs, art, clothes, and more. Heimann recommends Fugate’s — “a classic island gift store that has a little bit of everything,” she says. Or stop by Barbara Anne’s for a special piece of jewelry to commemorate your trip. 

At the family-owned Smart Studio Art Gallery & Shop (which has another location in Maine), you’ll find stunning local art, including original paintings, prints, driftwood sculptures, gifts, and home decor. Or, if you’re in the market for light tackle or outdoorsy clothing and accessories, stop by Boca Grande Outfitters .

Samuel Foster/Getty Images

Aside from the private Coral Creek Airport, which is less than 10 miles from Boca Grande, there are several public airports nearby. The closest is Punta Gorda Airport (PGD), about an hour away, which is serviced by Sun Country and Allegiant Air with nonstop flights from about 50 cities.

There’s also Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) and Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW), both of which are about an hour and a half away, and Tampa International Airport (TPA), which is about two hours away by car. Boca Grande is over three hours from both Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Miami International Airport (MIA). No matter where you fly into, there’s just one road onto Gasparilla Island: the Boca Grande Causeway.

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Biden to condemn current antisemitism in Holocaust remembrance amid college protests and Gaza war

Zeke Miller

Associated Press

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

President Joe Biden arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., from a weekend trip to his Delaware home, Monday, May 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden is set to issue a forceful condemnation of antisemitism during a Tuesday ceremony to remember victims of the Holocaust at a time when the Hamas attack on Israel and controversy over the war in Gaza have sparked new waves of violence and hateful rhetoric toward Jews .

Biden’s remarks at the Capitol will play out as pro-Palestinian protests — some of which have involved antisemitic chants and threats toward Jewish students and supporters of Israel — rock college campuses across the country.

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Biden has struggled to balance his support for Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack — the deadliest day for Jews worldwide since the Holocaust — with his efforts to constrain its war on the militant group in Gaza.

“You can expect the president to make clear that during these sacred days of remembrance, we honor the memory of the 6 million Jews killed in the Holocaust,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Monday. “And we recommit to heeding the lessons of this dark chapter. Never again.”

Jean-Pierre said Biden would speak to the “horrors” of the Hamas attack, and how antisemitism is on the rise globally and at home.

“And he will speak to how since October 7th, we’ve seen an alarming rise in antisemitism in the U.S. and our cities, our communities and on our campuses,” she added.

Biden was expected to steer clear of the upcoming presidential election in his speech. But his address comes as former President Donald Trump has criticized the incumbent for not doing more to combat antisemitism — while ignoring his own long history of rhetoric that invokes the language of Nazi Germany and plays on stereotypes of Jews in politics.

The Capitol event, hosted by the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, will also feature remarks from House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

The campus protests have posed a political challenge for Biden, whose coalition has historically relied on younger voters, many of whom are critical of his public support for Israel.

Jean-Pierre said Biden would “reaffirm” the right to free speech. “But there is no place on any campus or anywhere for antisemitism," she added. "There is no place for hate speech or threats of violence against the Jewish people.”

In conjunction with Biden’s speech, his administration was announcing new steps to combat antisemitism on colleges campuses and beyond. The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights was sending every school district and college in the nation a letter outlining examples of antisemitism and other hate that could lead to federal civil rights investigations.

The Department of Homeland Security was moving to educate schools and community groups about resources and funding available to promote campus safety and address threats. And the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat antisemitism was meeting with technology companies on how to combat the rise in hateful conflict online.

On Monday, Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris and the first Jewish spouse of a nationally elected American leader, met with Jewish college students at the White House about the administration's efforts to combat antisemitism. He heard students describe their own experiences with hatred, including threats of violence and hate speech, his office said.

Trump’s campaign on Monday released a video on Yom Hashoah, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance day, that aimed to contrast the 2024 presidential candidates’ responses on antisemitism.

The video shows images of Trump visiting Israel and speeches he has given pledging to stand with Jewish people and confront antisemitism, while showing footage of the protests on campuses and clips of Biden responding to protesters upset with his administration’s support for Israel in its war against Hamas.

One of the clips shows Biden saying, “They have a point,” but does not include the next sentence in which Biden said, “We need to get a lot more care into Gaza.”

Biden campaign spokesman James Singer said in response that “President Biden stands against antisemitism and is committed to the safety of the Jewish community, and security of Israel — Donald Trump does not.”

Associated Press writer Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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USC and UCLA to play two men’s basketball games apiece at Big Ten’s easternmost schools

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2011, file photo, the new Big Ten Conference logo “B1G” is stained into the wood of the newly-renovated Crisler Arena court during NCAA college basketball media day in Ann Arbor, Mich. Southern California and UCLA will play two road games apiece against the Big Ten’s easternmost schools while fellow conference newcomers Oregon and Washington will make one cross-country trip each during the 2024-25 men’s basketball season. (AP Photo/Tony Ding, File)

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ROSEMONT, Ill. (AP) — Southern California and UCLA will play two road games apiece against the Big Ten’s easternmost schools while fellow conference newcomers Oregon and Washington will make one cross-country trip each during the 2024-25 men’s basketball season.

The Big Ten released its breakdown of conference opponents for the 18 schools Wednesday. Each of the 18 teams will have 20 conference games, playing three schools home and away and the other 14 once. Game dates will be announced later.

USC and UCLA will have games at Rutgers and Maryland, and Oregon and Washington will visit Penn State.

The former Pac-12 teams will play each other twice.

Each of the other 14 teams will play two road games against West Coast schools.

Defending Big Ten regular-season champion Purdue will visit Washington and Oregon and play UCLA and USC at home.

AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

I'm a college student studying abroad. I'm shocked at how many luxury trips my classmates take.

• I was excited to study abroad in Florence and to take small, cheap trips while abroad.
• My classmates are not traveling cheaply; they are flying to luxury places like Dubai and the Alps.
• I wonder if they are just doing it for social media, but I'm still enjoying my time abroad.

As a third-year college student attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins, I jumped at the chance to study abroad . Trading in a semester of snow and freezing temperatures for beautiful architecture and centuries-old art was a no-brainer.

I was so excited that I filled out the application to study in Florence nearly a year before the day I would depart. Four months in Florence, Italy, was comparable to the cost of a semester at my state school . After talking to my parents and counselor, I believed the cultural experience and travel opportunities were worth it.

I knew that when I arrived, I would have to budget when traveling —doing so through communal hostel stays and low-cost airlines. I was prepared for overstuffed backpacks and bus tickets; upon arrival, though, it became clear that pinching pennies was not on everyone's agenda.

The other students are jet-setting every weekend to expensive locations

The first few days in Florence were comparable to a freshman welcome week. The time was full of activities, including hikes, dinners, and other various ventures to get students to meet one another. My roommates and I attended one of the dinners to make connections before classes began.

Standing among groups of strangers , I expected to converse about majors and hometowns; however, I witnessed a quiet competition between students on who would be going to the most places in the coming months.

Comments such as "I have every weekend planned and booked" or "I would go, but I've already been" were stacked on top of one another as my peers attempted to one-up each other. At this time, I had a total of zero trips planned. When caught in these conversations, I felt oddly pressured to also fill my calendar each weekend, accompanied by the feeling of stress due to not being able to afford travel every five days. I feared I would be left behind.

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I've been here for over two months, and this conversation hasn't ended. Every Monday, I hear whispers about where my peers had jet-setted to days before. Places like Dubai and Morocco have been mentioned, leaving me just as shocked as that first dinner. I knew studying abroad was a privilege before getting here, but "a weekend in Dubai " was not what I expected.

Nobody is 'roughing it' like I thought they would be

My spring break was only three weeks into the start of the semester, and this was when I decided to take my first trip. When booking, I scoured sites, such as KAYAK and Skyscanner, but plane tickets and hotels were still extremely pricey. Eventually, my roommates and I decided to spend five days in Prague after finding affordable tickets on Ryanair. One of the greatest appeals of Prague was it was walkable, cheap, and had a good nightlife — my top three requirements as a traveling college student.

My three roommates and I booked a studio apartment for around $100 each for a total of five nights. It took us two trains, one bus, a plane, and some walking to get there, but the price was right. I was excited for the following week and felt satisfied with our trip and housing accommodations.

That was until I scrolled through Instagram to see my peers skiing in the Alps and skydiving in Copenhagen. It was almost unbelievable that the people I attend classes with could afford this style of travel while my school backpack was stuffed with a week's worth of clothes cause I opted out of the carry-on baggage fee Ryanair required.

I thought everyone at this stage made sacrifices when traveling, but I was mostly wrong.

I'm convinced people are traveling for the sake of their Instagram

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that anyone can experience a new country in the span of 48 hours.

I do know, however, that people are really good at making their time away look like the best time ever on my Instagram feed . It's as if they're collecting comments like postcards or putting another notch in their belts by showing one another how many stamps they have accumulated in their passports.

Traveling while studying abroad is a competitive sport with a large price tag that no one told me to train for.

I've learned that such comparisons defeat the purpose of traveling. Maybe I haven't flown on the best airlines or stayed in an oceanfront villa, but my experiences abroad have been enriching and allowed me to engage with other cultures. Best of all? I didn't have to spend much money, and my Instagram still looks good.

Watch: Marriott International's Tina Edmundson tells Insider that the travel mindset has changed since the pandemic

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