Some interesting Big 10 Football happeneings

JonDMiller

JonDMiller

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Michigan's AD was asked if he would want Michigan and OSU in same division if he were making the decision...he paused, then said 'No' LINKTea Leaves into Divisional alignment (Dave Brandon audio 08-20) | MVictors.com | Michigan Football Blog

Many outlets reporting that Dennard Robinson will be Michigan's starting QB for UConn game, their opener.

Terrelle Pryor - QB, Ohio State - NCAA Football Preview: All-Big Ten Team - Photos - SI.com
Terrelle Pryor, Ohio State headline 2010 Big Ten preview - NCAA Football - SI.com
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As a follower of the division alignments I am not surprised that the Michigan AD is not opposed to be in a division opposite Ohio State. In some replies to other postings I've felt Michigan and Michigan State would be moved west and Illinois and Wisconsin would be moved east for competitive balance and geographic reasons.
 
I'm not surprised. From his perspective, even if Big Blue loses The Game, they could still win the Big Ten by winning their division and beating OSU (or whoever won the other division) in the conference title game.
 
The more I hear, the more I find it likely that the Big Ten splits up OSU/Michigan. If that happened, I think the divisions would look like this:

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Northwestern

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
 
The michigan AD is stupid. If Michigan is in the west with Iowa,Neb,MSU,and has their annual game with OSU...they have little chance to win the West unless they beat OSU...and then they will likely have to beat them again a week later...fat chance.
 
Raziel said:
The more I hear, the more I find it likely that the Big Ten splits up OSU/Michigan. If that happened, I think the divisions would look like this:

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Northwestern

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
Click to expand...


I hope this doesn't shake out the way you have them. I hate every opponent you have in D-1 and love it when the Hawks play every team in d-2. Losing out on playin OSU, PSU, Wis, and Minny annually would almost ruin the football season for me. I know we would get a protected rivalry game but it just wouldn't be the same.
 
The more we hear it sounds like UM/OSU will be split and they will move "The Game" to earlier in the season. Huge mistake in my opinion.....
 
Raziel said:
The more I hear, the more I find it likely that the Big Ten splits up OSU/Michigan. If that happened, I think the divisions would look like this:

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
* Minnesota > Illinois to your D2
Northwestern

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin
*Illinois > Minnesota to your D1
Indiana
Purdue
Click to expand...

Better competitive balance, protect rivalries and trophy games in 9 game schedule, and better geographically.
 
When did delaney say these conference divisons are coming out???? I could of sworn he said late august, before the season starts. So it's got to be soon, does anyone remember what timeframe he said a few months back for when they would be set????
 
I don't think it can possibly shake out this way. I don't see how they could move Iowa's only two protected rivals (and conference trophy games) to the other division. I would be very very surprised if we end up in a different division than BOTH Wisconsin and Minnesota. I could potentially see one or the other, but not both.
 
I just saw espn-big ten tweet, that two protected cross rivals is a possibility. So we protect wisconsin/minnesota. Then we play indy/purdue/psu/osu 2 out of every 4 years. Which really doesn't excite me much either.
 
Raziel said:
The more I hear, the more I find it likely that the Big Ten splits up OSU/Michigan. If that happened, I think the divisions would look like this:

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Northwestern

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
Click to expand...



I think you are correct. And that being said, the rivalry games to end the year would look like this:

Iowa/Nebraska
Michigan/Michigan St
Northwestern/Illinois

Penn St/Ohio St
Minnesota/Wisconsin
Indiana/Purdue

makes sense. I think the west is tougher than the east in this scenario from top to bottom, but overall pretty even. Indiana and Minnesota in the same division makes for easy pickins for the guys at the top.

In this scenario Iowa would have to be guaranteed games against Wiscy & Minny every year.
 
WhitUp said:
When did delaney say these conference divisons are coming out???? I could of sworn he said late august, before the season starts. So it's got to be soon, does anyone remember what timeframe he said a few months back for when they would be set????
Click to expand...

I think he said something like 45 to 60 days from the media days. That would put it at the middle to end of September.
 
WhitUp said:
I just saw espn-big ten tweet, that two protected cross rivals is a possibility. So we protect wisconsin/minnesota. Then we play indy/purdue/psu/osu 2 out of every 4 years. Which really doesn't excite me much either.
Click to expand...

I agree that the two protected rivalries stink. Oh joy, hosting OSU once per four years. I hope we all enjoy the OSU game this year, next time they visit is 2014. Then 2018.
 
This is a far more likley alignment...based on maintaining rivalries and competitive balance.

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Northwestern
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
 
JHHawk said:
The michigan AD is stupid. If Michigan is in the west with Iowa,Neb,MSU,and has their annual game with OSU...they have little chance to win the West unless they beat OSU...and then they will likely have to beat them again a week later...fat chance.
Click to expand...

If Michigan is in the West, their annual game with OSU will only be used in case a tie breaker is required against the other teams in the West. If they are in the same division as OSU, a loss to OSU will most likely eliminate them from any chance to play for the championship.
 
Mesaclone said:
This is a far more likley alignment...based on maintaining rivalries and competitive balance.

Division 1
Michigan
Michigan State
Nebraska
Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin

Division 2
Ohio State
Penn State
Northwestern
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
Click to expand...

Division 1 is much tougher in that alignment. You have the four worst progroms all in the same division in that set up. Since the B10 has made it clear that competitive balance is the number one goal, there is no way Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and Michigan are all in the same division.
 
ICHawk24 said:
I agree that the two protected rivalries stink. Oh joy, hosting OSU once per four years. I hope we all enjoy the OSU game this year, next time they visit is 2014. Then 2018.
Click to expand...

It would only be once every 4 years if they go to a 9 game conference schedule otherwise it would be once every 8 years. With 2 protected rivals from the other division that means you are only playing one other team from the other division each year along with the 5 in your division. It would be like this:

2010: OSU
2011: @OSU
2012: Purdue
2013: @ Purdue
2014: Penn St
2015: @ Penn St
2016: Indiana
2017: @ Indiana
2018: OSU finally comes back to Kinnick.
 
Well, arguably the 2 strongest programs would be in Division 2. Further, Purdue is no slouch, Indiana has been improving and Northwestern is frequently a bowl level team. In division 1, neither Michigan or Nebraska are what they used to be, and Illinois has absolutely been stinking up the place. Iowa and Wisconsin are very solid programs so the whole thing balances out fairly well. Admittedly, the Division 1 is a bit tougher as of today...but over the next 20 years you could expect that to fluctuate back and forth pretty evenly I'd think. Preserving rivalries within divisions is a plus with this scenario as well...while allowing at least the potential for a UM v OSU championship game.
 
Mesaclone said:
Well, arguably the 2 strongest programs would be in Division 2. Further, Purdue is no slouch, Indiana has been improving and Northwestern is frequently a bowl level team. In division 1, neither Michigan or Nebraska are what they used to be, and Illinois has absolutely been stinking up the place. Iowa and Wisconsin are very solid programs so the whole thing balances out fairly well. Admittedly, the Division 1 is a bit tougher as of today...but over the next 20 years you could expect that to fluctuate back and forth pretty evenly I'd think. Preserving rivalries within divisions is a plus with this scenario as well...while allowing at least the potential for a UM v OSU championship game.
Click to expand...

Using Delany's 1993 to present criteria, here are the winning % and national rank for:
Purdue: 51% (55th)
Indiana: 35.3%(101..ISU is 99)
Northwestern: 48% (73)
Illinois: 38.3% (96th)

Three teams below .500
 
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