Well reasoned article that promotes sending both Wisconsin & Illinois to the "West" and Michigan to the "East".

Numbers show geography works for B1G football realignment

Part of me thinks the idea of splitting the "Big 4" evenly is a fundamental motivation in Chicago and won't be changed. But this article says that the fundamental assumptions and numbers behind the classification is flawed. In short that Ohio State is on a pedestal of its own and the other 3 are more along the lines of Wisconsin. That might be taking a bit too much liberty with recent performances, but isn't unreasonable. Now the senaro brought forward the divsions would break down along these lines:

West: Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois, and Michigan State

East: Michigan, Purdue, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland

Rivarlies I guess would split along the following lines:

Michigan State-Michigan

Nebraska-Penn State

Wisconsin-Ohio State

Illinois-Purdue

Minnesota-Indiana

Northwestern-Rutgers

Iowa-Maryland