Big Ten Announces Divisional Alignment
In a press release tonight, the Big Ten confirmed that the new divisional alignment will match what was widely reported by ESPN this afternoon:
1 - OSU, PSU, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Wisconsin
2 - Michigan, MSU, NW, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska
So it's basically an east/west split with the two Michigan schools switching sides with Wisconsin and Illinois. ESPN also says they will use those division for basketball as well, and play a 16-game schedule with each team playing two games within their division and one game across divisions. There is no word on whether or not OSU-MIchigan will remain at the end of the season.
over 1 year ago
Buckeye Brad
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Question....
….why the hell did Minnesota and Illinois get put in the wrong divisions?
The protected cross-divisional rivalries here just don’t make sense. You have OSU-Michigan, Northwestern-Illinois, PSU-Nebraska (although I guess it could be PSU-MSU)….and then? Wisconsin-Minny will have to happen (it’s the oldest game in all of football), but that leaves Iowa and MSU to matchup with Purdue and Indiana — none of which are really compelling matchups.
Now flip Illinois and Minnesota. All of a sudden, you get OSU-Mich, PSU-Nebraska, Iowa-Wisconsin, NU-Purdue (currently protected rivals), Indiana-Illinois (border war) and MSU-Minny (admittedly a bit weak, but not terribly so).
I don’t get the rationale on Illinois and Minny…..
Indiana-Illinois (border war) (slap fight that almost resembles football)
"If you need a rah-rah speech at halftime, you’re playing the wrong sport." - Pat Angerer
We'll get that this year
Minnesota – Illinois
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Sep 1, 2010 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Well...
1) Floyd would be lost in your setup
2) MSU and Indiana play for the Old Brass Spitoon, so I could see that being a protected rivalry.
Look, both options end up with some “fail” protected rivalries. But this one preserves the most important historical rivalry trophy games.
Floyd
I realize losing Floyd would hurt Minny and Iowa fans (although you’d only likely lose it until we went to 9 conference games), but to me, the Iowa-Wisconsin game is more important in terms of competitive balance, and you can’t lose Minny-Wisconsin (the oldest series in all of football)…..thus why I chose to drop Floyd.
No thanks
As much as I hate to lose Wisconsin, I’d rather keep Minnesota.
Although I’m biased, my family is from there, so the hate is strong.
It never gets to be easy
by chitownhawkeye on Sep 1, 2010 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
I think with those divisions, you would go Iowa with Minn and Wisconsin with MSU. Makes more sense (Wisconsin and Michigan St as border war) than what you said, and Iowa/Minn is bigger than Iowa/Wisc
How would Floyd be lost?
With Iowa and Minny in the same division, Floyd would be guaranteed to be played yearly.
"You don't become a Hawkeye fan, You're born with Black and Gold in your veins." - Me
by BStylin Hawkye on Sep 1, 2010 3:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Nevermind
/internet dumb’d
"You don't become a Hawkeye fan, You're born with Black and Gold in your veins." - Me
by BStylin Hawkye on Sep 1, 2010 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Forgetting Sweet Sioux / Land 'o Linc
I think I speak for Wildcat Nation when I say most of us would rather see NU keep our downstate brethren over Purdue. Everyone knows there would only be a community college in Urbana-Champaign if it weren’t for the NU admissions office.
Ummm...
….Sweet Sioux/LOL would still be played if you flipped Minny and Illinois — it would be a intradivision game.
i got it
but most NU fans wouldn’t mind losing Purdue occasionally. I think they are planing for a big rivalry weekend for all the protected schools for the last game. makes keeping OSU-UM on the last weekend look better to outsiders…
Michigan-Ohio State (The Game, cross)
Illinois-Northwestern (Sweet Sioux Tomahawk/Land of Lincoln Trophy, cross, same state)
Indiana-Purdue (Old Oaken Bucket, same, same state)
Michigan State-Penn State (Land Grant Trophy, cross)
Minnesota-Wisconsin (Paul Bunyan’s Axe, cross, old-time)
Iowa-Nebraska (Welcome to the Big 10 new matchup, same, border-war)
The only same division games would be Indiana-Purdue for the oaken bucket and Iowa-Neb being new and “special”. The reported setup makes these other trophy games non-rivalry weekend and could be occasionally lost if cross-divisional, not taking into account a potential 9 game schedule.
Illinois-Ohio State (Illibuck, same so will still be played)
Illinois-Purdue (Purdue Cannon, same so will still be played)
Indiana-Michigan State (Old Brass Spittoon, cross)
Iowa-Minnesota (Floyd of Rosedale, same so will still be played)
Iowa-Wisconsin (Heartland Trophy, cross)
Michigan-Michigan State (Paul Bunyan Trophy, same so will still be played)
Michigan-Minnesota (Little Brown Jug, same so will still be played)
Minnesota-Penn State (Governor’s Victory Bell, cross)
It’s only schools with multiple trophy games at issue, so we would not be protecting spittoon, heartland, and victory bell? occasionally losing heartland isn’t ideal, but the others are no great occasional loss in my mind. the reported alignment keeps the hype with basically Wisconsin and Nebraska switching for Iowa. Iowa can’t have 3 specials anyway, Indiana is Indiana, and PSU kinda gets shafted a little but is the most recent newcomer. I can see the reasoning I guess…
By the way
If these turn out to be the true divisions, I’m fine with them. I think swapping Illinois and Minnesota would have made more sense. Especially for hoops if this is true
In men’s basketball, according to sources, the Big Ten could play a 16-game conference schedule by taking a model similar to those used by the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences. In those leagues, teams play each division opponent twice and then single games — three at home and three on the road — against teams in the opposing division.
But, I think that there is much to like about this split.
"Bama Hawkeye, you know, the Iowa blogger who actually uses reason and analysis." - Hawkeye State
"Off Tackle Empire":http://www.offtackleempire.com
Well
I looks like MN will be top two in its division for Hoops. Sweet. And last or second to last for Football every year.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions
They get to be killed by Michigan State twice a season now.
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 1, 2010 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions
they already have been getting killed by MSU twice a year
anyways. Plus, MN will actually have some size now to perhaps outrebound MSU. I am not sure MSU is going to be as good as we all thought they were going to be after the end of last year.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 1, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
because of RPI
I can’t see them using the divisions.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 1, 2010 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions
But you get a free ride to the NCAAs!
Does this mean Izzo could be a one and done if he doesn’t get the seed he wants?
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 1, 2010 8:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Regarding competitive balance....
The divisions have identical .580 winning percentages since 1993 (when Penn State joined the Big Ten).
I’d still flip Minnesota and Illinois, though.
As for basketball — why even have divisions? Just do what we do now — play everyone once (11 games), and 5-7 teams twice (to get either 16 or 18 conference games)…
But this way
the two division champs can play a season finale game to be conference champ, then they can still have the Big Ten trouney. It’s a win-win for the bank account!
"If you need a rah-rah speech at halftime, you’re playing the wrong sport." - Pat Angerer
I highly doubt they will have an extra game between the two division champs outside of the Big Ten Tournament. Have you heard repots about this from somewhere?
. . . says the man from Columbus.
No
but this has been about money from the start and that sort of game should bring in a good amount of revenue.
"If you need a rah-rah speech at halftime, you’re playing the wrong sport." - Pat Angerer
Yeah, I thought I heard they weren’t going to have divisions for basketball and other sports besides football.
As far as basketball goes, though, the divisions aren’t very balanced. Michigan State should dominate their division because all the other recently good basketball programs (OSU, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue) are in one division.
. . . says the man from Columbus.
MN has been better than Indiana over that stretch
I highly doubt they keep the divisions for basketball.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 1, 2010 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I’m not sure what stretch you’re talking about, but Indiana is an elite basketball school (even considering their struggles the last few years) so I expect them to be competative again soon. Minnesota hasn’t really done anyhing worthwhile in basketball in a long time.
. . . says the man from Columbus.
true enough
MN went through a period of time where they just went cheap on everything. Stadium…coaches…facilities in general and they paid the price. But with Tubby as the coach and I believe they are going to build a new practice facilitiy for him, the basketball team should be pretty good for a while.
No one is getting Rubio's rights unless they pry them from our cold dead fingers.
by TheEvilProfessor on Sep 1, 2010 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions
They should be
pretty good…in the regular season.
Unfortunately, the last two NCAAs leave much to be desired from Minnesota. One-and-done, two years in a row. Then the pundits start babbling about how overrated the Big Ten is. It’s sickening.
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions
shafted
As a Wisconsin fan, I have to say that, if these are truly what the divisions turn out to be, they couldn’t have come out any worse for the Badgers. We lose one great rivalry (either Iowa or Minny, I sincerely hope that we get to keep the Gophers out of the two), and a potentially great new rivalry in Nebraska. Keeping my fingers crossed that Andy Katz got fed some bad info.
Wisco would never have gotten Nebby as a rival.
"You don't become a Hawkeye fan, You're born with Black and Gold in your veins." - Me
by BStylin Hawkye on Sep 1, 2010 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions
what I meant was that if they were in the same division the game could have developed into a good rivalry. Not saying it would be bigger than Nebraska-Iowa will be, just that it could have been another great game to look forward to each year.
by Badger_in_Utah on Sep 1, 2010 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I’d say that the Badgers got the short end of the stick. I’m not totally sure how we could have avoid SOMEone getting hosed though.
It's a perfectly cromulent word.
At least it was just one team, that we can tell. We’ll know for sure tonight but I agree, someone should be pissed off one way or another.
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!
by Andrew Tolliver on Sep 1, 2010 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Straight geography, or
OSU/Mich/PSU/MSU/Ill/Ind and Neb/Wis/Iowa/N’western/Pur/Minn
"I think so, Brain, but how are we going to get the bacon flavoring into the pencils?"
This sucks
I would have much prefered an east west split.
by jolly rancher on Sep 1, 2010 3:22 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
ESPN might have it wrong
This very well could mean absolutely nothing… but the helmets on the BTN website right now are lined up in a way that’s suspiciously balanced. And not in the way ESPN reported it. Am I crazy, or does anyone else think the image might be an early screencap from their upcoming announcement?
I do like that alignment but I think it would make more sense to have us and PSU together…Not a bad thought though. Can’t wait for tonight!
Columbus til I die, Columbus til I die. I know I am, I swear I am, Columbus til I die!
"Turner, at midcourt...inside it, at the buzzer, GOT IT!!!!"
We're the Big Ten, who the F@*# are YOU??!?!?!
by Andrew Tolliver on Sep 1, 2010 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions
If we are to take the helmet placement literally...
does Minnesota’s helmet location meant they are going to be kicked out? It looks as if it’s going to fall off the table any moment.
That would be awesome.
Lord knows their football team has just been a free win for Iowa, Wisconsin, Penn State, Ohio State, and Michigan as of late…
For all the crap we give Wil Wheaton, he can still tackle better than Asante Samuel...
The various schools of the Big Ten should let Ohio State and Michigan know in no uncertain terms that dissent will NOT be tolerated.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 1, 2010 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions
So ...
Rivalries and geography were important considerations, were they?
MSU-PSU: permanent end-of-season rivalry now, nothing in 2011
Wisc-Iowa: permanent (often, but not always) end-of-season rivalry now, nothing in 2011
Purdue-NW: permanent rivalry now, nothing in 2011
Mich-OSU: permanent end-of-season rivalry now, cross-division in 2011
Ill-NW: permanent end-of-season rivalry now, cross-division and not season-ending in 2011
Minn-Wisc: permanent (often, but not always) end-of-season rivalry now, cross-division and not season-ending in 2011
Geography: Both divisions are 4-2 geographically between east and west.
I call bullshit.
Well, it was impossible to preserve every rivalry and trophy game no matter how they split up divisions. And they made it clear that geography wasn’t their main priority when splitting the teams so I’m not sure what your problem is with that.
. . . says the man from Columbus.
They could have kept each currently protected rivalry, and all but 2 trophy games...
as yearly games, with a straight E/W and OSU-Ill, Mich-Minn, Pur-N’western, Neb-PSU, Wis-MSU, Iowa-Ind. Then, the trophy games that aren’t yearly are Purdue Cannon and Governor’s Victory Bell. Or with my proposal, you get divisions that are more balanced, but with the same protection of every currently protected rivalry and all but 2 trophy games.
"I think so, Brain, but how are we going to get the bacon flavoring into the pencils?"
They could have kept nine existing permanent rivalries in division, without cross-division rivalries
This has cross-division rivalries and only saves eight. With one permanent cross-division game, straight geography could save all the permanent rivalries and all but three other trophy games (you’d lose the Illibuck, either Illinois-Indiana or the Purdue Cannon, and either the Jug or the Governor’s Victory Bell).
And it’s pretty clear geography wasn’t much of a concern at all. They said balance and rivalries would be bigger, yes; they didn’t say geography would be excluded entirely.
They got the split right? Hardly
Switching UM and MSU with Wisky and Illinois would have been perfect a geographic split.
Are you trying to tell me that “competitive balance” was accomplished with this???
Question: Are UM and MSU really that much better than Wisky and Illinois? Answer: No. If fact, they are worse.
Illinois has BEATEN Michigan twice in a row to prove that fact.
And that was a god-awful Illini squad…
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 1, 2010 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions
The Futility Bowl, Big Ten Style
There were two. Illinois-Minnesota (That game was chock-full of Epic Fail)
and
Illinois-Indiana (the Hoosiers only Big Ten win of the year, but boy did they need it)
My hatred of Michigan knows no bounds. Even more so after this travesty.
September 1st, 2010. A day that shall live in infamy.
"Because one of the great minds of the 21st century is raising glow-in-the-dark fish and weaving serapes..." -Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory
by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Sep 2, 2010 12:17 AM CDT up reply actions
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