If I have that gravestone correctly placed then I can propose a theory on the order of the teams arrivals:
T&J Are shown running past the gravestone toward the mat.
Bama and R&K are shown running in front of the modern housing units toward the mat.
Why are there such different approaches?
T&J used the obvious direct approach to the mat (the right fork in the driveway).
I think Bama and R&K arrived before T&J and took the left fork in the driveway because of production screening or direction (not just because they were lost).
Then, later on, when T&J arrived the production screen or redirect was removed so T&J could just get to the mat.
So here's my prediction: T&J are 3rd.
After looking closer at GE I don't think the teams took different approaches. There is a creek and a foot bridge going over the creek between most of those dorms and the final mat. Bama and R/K would have to run almost back to the road and take a sharp left to run towards the mat. T/J pic is much closer to reaching the mat. And remember in summer the trees and shrubs are full and they probably wouldn't see the mat until they passed the 2nd house.
The question is why are they coming from that direction? If it was to do a final task they wouldn't have them see the the mat before the task. Do we know if the area just southeast is also part of the academy? Perhaps they went there and completed a task (maybe in that field) and then ran to the mat. It's less than a half mile and we've never seen teams pull right up to the final pitstop and jog just a few feet anyway.
ETA: Maybe I have them running through the woods?
Just saying that I don't think the taxi's would drop them within viewing distance of the mat so they have to coming from somewhere.
[attachment deleted by admin]