NW-Illinois will play each year in football

[JonDMiller]

Northwestern-Illinois rivalry appears safe - Chicago Breaking Sports

Not sure if this means same division or not, though.

 

[iHawk]

I sure hope we are in a division with Illinois and Northwestern. If we don't get at least one of them in our division I'll be extremely disappointed.

 

[bws258]

If we just went E/W there wouldn't be any ridiculous wondering

 

[Norse23]

I read that to mean they'll be in opposite divisions. Otherwise, wouldn't he say they'd be in the same division?

 

[CAARHawk]

I have been saying all along that I hope they are in opposite divisions. They need to split up Purdue and Indiana and NW and Illinois.

That way there is not clear East and West split. Both divisions are spread throughout the conference. Sure there will be one division that will have the western most team (Nebby) and the eastern most team (PSU), but all the other teams will be spread throughout the conference footprint.

Calling it East and West is silly.

 

[jameskalina]

It makes sense to have NW in the East and Illinois in the West and play each other in a protective rivalry.

I can see Wisconsin going to the East and Iowa in the West under the same scenario.

The East:
Penn State
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana

The West:
Minnesota
Nebraska
Illinois
Iowa
Michigan
MSU

 

[CAARHawk]

I see Minny and Wisky going together kind of like Michigan and MSU.

Here is my prediction

Iron and Steel Division
PSU
OSU
Wisky
Minny
Illinois
Purdue

Heartland Division
Michigan
MSU
Nebby
Iowa
Northwestern
Indiana

 

[JHHawk]

It makes sense to have NW in the East and Illinois in the West and play each other in a protective rivalry.

I can see Wisconsin going to the East and Iowa in the West under the same scenario.

The East:
Penn State
Ohio State
Wisconsin
Northwestern
Purdue
Indiana

The West:
Minnesota
Nebraska
Illinois
Iowa
Michigan
MSU

I think this is the most likely.
I will miss those close trips to Evanston for NW games every other year,but I think this split makes sense if we are not doing the right,geographic,logical split.