BigAppleBuckeye wrote:
How about this? Assuming Missouri joins the Big 10, why not break up the two divisions by when each team joined the Big 10? In other words, the first 6 teams that joined the conference would be in the "Original 6" division, while the last six would be in the "new 6" division. These division names could change of course, let's just use them for now.
It would break down like this:
ORIGINAL
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
NEW
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Missouri
Pretty fair I think. And, they could still schedule OSU-Michigan for the last regular-season game every season. Thoughts?
PS, I found out when each joined the Big 10 via this wiki page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ten_Conference
BAD Idea. Ohio State and Michigan not in the same Division?? Conferences with 2 Divisions don't have non-division games the last game of the Conference regular season. Ohio State and Michigan playing a NON-division game, would make it a far less important game than it has been for 100 years. They have to be in the same Division, play the last game of the regular season, as they have for 100 years. Which will still make it a very meaningful game.
Indiana schools in different divisions?? Illinois schools in different divisions?? Minnesota and Wisconsin in different divisions?? ALL big rivalry games.
This makes more sense.
Big Ten East - Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Purdue, Indiana
Big Ten West - Northwestern, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri
All rivalries in the same Division.
There are more sports to think about than just football and basketball. There are very important money issues to consider. Number one, less air travel. Cost affective Divisions for money draining sports in athletic departments. Such as Soccer, Track and Field, Cross Country, Gymnastics to name a few.
Other than football, every school in a Division will play each other twice on a home and home basis. A school won't have to play a school outside of their division if they don't want to. Relatively close schools from different Divisions can play each other if they choose to, like Indiana and Illinois schools. If not, they can play closer non-division, non-league schools. All schools from both Divisions get together once a year to determine a Big Ten Champion. OR, the 1st Place school from each Division meets at the end of the regular season to determine a Big Ten Champion. Depending on what is best for each sport.
