TecmoSuperHawk
Well-Known Member
With the impending divisional realignment due to the additions of Maryland and Rutgers, I have what I think is a good solution to this situation that will allow Big Ten teams to play everyone every other year and a few teams every single year.
Scrap the divisions and have all 14 teams in a single division. I know there is an NCAA rule about having 2 divisions, but I'm certain Jim Delany can push to have that rescinded.
If you have a single 14 team division, then every team can play 3 protected rivals each year and 5 games against teams outside of that group. The following year you would play the remaining 5 teams in the conference plus your 3 rivals. You would play everyone in your conference every other year and your most important rivals every single year. With a 2 division format, you would have several teams you would play only once every 6 years, which would go completely against Delany's desire to play each other more, not less.
Example using Iowa. Protected rivals are Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska. In year 1 they could play Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, Penn State and Rutgers, plus their 3 rivals. In year 2, they would play Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State and Maryland, plus their 3 rivals. Year 3 would go back to the year 1 rotation but flip flop home/away. Same with year 4.
The other benefit is the top 2 teams would play for the Big Ten title and you wouldn't have to worry about a situation like this year where a 7-5 Wisconsin team plays for the Rose Bowl trip. Or even worse in the ACC where a 6-6 Georgia Tech team is playing for the title. Thoughts?
Scrap the divisions and have all 14 teams in a single division. I know there is an NCAA rule about having 2 divisions, but I'm certain Jim Delany can push to have that rescinded.
If you have a single 14 team division, then every team can play 3 protected rivals each year and 5 games against teams outside of that group. The following year you would play the remaining 5 teams in the conference plus your 3 rivals. You would play everyone in your conference every other year and your most important rivals every single year. With a 2 division format, you would have several teams you would play only once every 6 years, which would go completely against Delany's desire to play each other more, not less.
Example using Iowa. Protected rivals are Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska. In year 1 they could play Illinois, Michigan, Purdue, Penn State and Rutgers, plus their 3 rivals. In year 2, they would play Northwestern, Michigan State, Indiana, Ohio State and Maryland, plus their 3 rivals. Year 3 would go back to the year 1 rotation but flip flop home/away. Same with year 4.
The other benefit is the top 2 teams would play for the Big Ten title and you wouldn't have to worry about a situation like this year where a 7-5 Wisconsin team plays for the Rose Bowl trip. Or even worse in the ACC where a 6-6 Georgia Tech team is playing for the title. Thoughts?
