krambman;458822 wrote:Are you new? Yes, obviously there are other ways to split up the divisions. No, not geographically, but unlike you incorrectly stated, not everyone divides their conference by geography (the ACC divided their divisions to try and create balance instead of by geography). Yes, I think that this makes the most sense to everyone, but it makes the East much more difficult than the West (assuming Michigan recovers once RichRod craws back into the cesspool he came out of), and we've seen with the Big XII that having a dominant division isn't really a good thing.

And as far as rivalries go, the Big Ten has already said that a nine game conference schedule is likely. That would mean that everyone has seven teams they would play every year (the other five in their division and two permanent cross-overs). This means that every traditional rivalry would be assured to be played every year either as a divisional game or as a permanent cross-over.

Folks, it's time that we accept the fact the geography is about the fifth most important thing the conference is considering when deciding divisions and that in all likelihood we won't get the seemingly logical East/West split down the Indiana/Illinois boarder.

redfalcon;459027 wrote:I get the feeling that we are going to have a real rivalry develop between Nebraska and Iowa, perhaps Nebraska-Minnesota

sjmvsfscs08;459049 wrote:The West Division has Iowa, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. The East Division has Michigan, Ohio State, and Penn State. Now people like to assume that Michigan will get better instantly, but even top programs have lost decades (USC 1990s, Notre Dame 2000s, etc.) Michigan might not get back into the swing of things for some time. Fact of the matter is none of us know the future. Nebraska may complete their ascension to elite status, but they may falter. Iowa was looking good until a slew of injuries in the middle of the decade, but they are a top Big Ten team have have been throughout the decade. Wisconsin is typically tough and has been for a while. Shit even Northwestern made a few Rose Bowls in the 1990s.

Move Penn State over to that division, and not only are they traveling one thousand miles to go to Nebraska, but you could argue Nebraska/Iowa/Wisconsin/Penn State is tougher than Ohio State/Michigan, even if Michigan State gets rolling with Dantonio.

There is just no way to know what will happen, so teams should quit bitching because from 19XX-1992 you had to play everyone to win the conference, and from 1993-2010 the best teams didn't avoid each other typically. Iowa and Ohio State in 2002 comes to mind though. Yes, I'm talking to you Michigan Athletic Director. Fucking pussy.

redfalcon;459168 wrote:It seems difficult and akward to have a north south division when your conference stretches from The new Jersey border to the Wyoming border, but is only two states tall.

BigAppleBuckeye;459370 wrote:I posted this a long time ago, but I think it is worth discussing again: what if we broke it out by conference seniority? Check it out, here is the breakdown, with the year they joined the Big 10 in Parentheses:

SENIOR DIVISION

Illinois (1896)
Michigan (1896)
Minnesota (1896)
Northwestern (1896)
Purdue (1896)
Wisconsin (1896)

JUNIOR DIVISION

Indiana (1899)
Iowa (1899)
Ohio State (1912)
Michigan State (1950)
Penn State (1990)
Nebraska (2010)