Updated Big Ten division alignment coming soon

[veerman76]

With this football only we want NW with us so not all of the conference can say they will play a game in Chicago.....this is a big thing for Recruiting and keeping kids in state

[Dan]

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says Michigan State wants to be in the west.

"I know Michigan State was lobbying in the West Division instead of the East." via

This would be the alignment-

[FredrickFremont]

Can't they draw a straight line going about 30 degrees and -210 degrees from Merrillville, IN...

UI, PU, IU, OSU, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland (The sorta South & East division)

UNL, Minn., Iowa, UW, NU, MSU, scUM (The sorta North & West division)

[ChiBears]

Originally Posted by Dan

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says Michigan State wants to be in the west.

"I know Michigan State was lobbying in the West Division instead of the East." via

This would be the alignment-

Dan is this confirmed that msu will be in the west?

[DrewD007]

Originally Posted by FredrickFremont

Can't they draw a straight line going about 30 degrees and -210 degrees from Merrillville, IN...

UI, PU, IU, OSU, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland (The sorta South & East division)

UNL, Minn., Iowa, UW, NU, MSU, scUM (The sorta North & West division)

The B1G wants Michigan and Ohio St in same division. I think their ADs want that too.

[ChiBears]

Originally Posted by DrewD007

The B1G wants Michigan and Ohio St in same division. I think their ADs want that too.

They have already stated that Michigan and OSU want to be in the same division both ad's have said it already.

[FredrickFremont]

Originally Posted by ChiBears

They have already stated that Michigan and OSU want to be in the same division both ad's have said it already.

I didn't realize it was up to them. I mean, the conference can do whatever they have to do to protect certain matchups. It's not like UM-MSU isn't just as, if not more, intense as UM-OSU.

[ChiBears]

Originally Posted by FredrickFremont

I didn't realize it was up to them. I mean, the conference can do whatever they have to do to protect certain matchups. It's not like UM-MSU isn't just as, if not more, intense as UM-OSU.

Michigan and Ohio St. will be in the same division when the water settles.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by FredrickFremont

Can't they draw a straight line going about 30 degrees and -210 degrees from Merrillville, IN...

UI, PU, IU, OSU, PSU, Rutgers, Maryland (The sorta South & East division)

UNL, Minn., Iowa, UW, NU, MSU, scUM (The sorta North & West division)

Doubt they would go that direction because it's most likely they want to go the time zone division, with only 1 team out of their timezone.

Originally Posted by ChiBears

Dan is this confirmed that msu will be in the west?

Not a done deal. But interesting that MSU wants that alignment, that seems to be the best in terms of geography & competitive balance. Stay tuned

[Groundhogday]

Originally Posted by Dan

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says Michigan State wants to be in the west.

"I know Michigan State was lobbying in the West Division instead of the East." via

This would be the alignment-

Wow. If so, then I would have to think this is what the B1G would do. I guess I can see why MSU wants in the west. In the east, they would always be little brother to Michigan, and face tOSU annually (and Penn State when they eventually get back on their feet.)

[IlliniSaluki]

Originally Posted by Dan

I like this version of the divisions. It would also make it easy to adjust them if we do end up adding UVA and UNC/GT/anyothereastcoastschool by simply moving Purdue to the West at that time.

[GilThorpe]

Originally Posted by Dan

Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez says Michigan State wants to be in the west.

"I know Michigan State was lobbying in the West Division instead of the East." via

This would be the alignment-

This makes alot of sense on many levels. I will be just shocked if this isnt how it goes down. While MSU loves playing UM every year, they will love getting out from their shadow even more.

[BZuppke]

MSU probably is also relishing the idea of playing scUM in the championship game as well.

[GilThorpe]

Originally Posted by BZuppke

MSU probably is also relishing the idea of playing scUM in the championship game as well.

yea, but thats probably not going to occur that often.

[BZuppke]

They can always dream.

[AutoPoster 3000]

Originally Posted by IlliniSaluki

I like this version of the divisions. It would also make it easy to adjust them if we do end up adding UVA and UNC/GT/anyothereastcoastschool by simply moving Purdue to the West at that time.

That part is really interests me. Given a choice between a division with seven of the original old school Big Ten rivals plus Nebraska verses a Frankenstein division of OSU, Michigan, Indiana, and five B1G east Coast interlopers amongst whom there are no traditions, I know which one I'd take.

[KJKobs]

Divisions debate down to Indiana, Purdue

The Big Ten's future division alignment is taking shape. Barring a late shift in the discussions between athletic directors and league officials, the only question to sort out is: Will Indiana or Purdue move West?

"East" division
Maryland
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Rutgers
Purdue or Indiana

"West" division
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Purdue or Indiana

[DaytonIllini]

That looks favorable for Illinois compared to the East.

[BZuppke]

I like this. Nebraska is the only program that is a traditional power and they aren't at the level they once were. We can win this division if we ever get our act together.

[BZuppke]

I'm trying to be objective here, but why is the press so myopic? They talk about MSU moving west would have given us more competitive balance between the divisions as if things are so static. I hope I'm not just wishful thinking, but other than scUM and tOSU, 10 years from now Wisky, MSU, Iowa and Nebraska (maybe) could be bottom feeders and Illinois could be as solid as Wisky. IMHO, only scUM and tOSU are almost certain to remain strong and only IU is almost certain to never reach a BTT. With the right coach, any of the others can reach near the top or be near the bottom, just as the power shifted from East to West in the SEC.

[DrewD007]

Originally Posted by BZuppke

I'm trying to be objective here, but why is the press so myopic? They talk about MSU moving west would have given us more competitive balance between the divisions as if things are so static. I hope I'm not just wishful thinking, but other than scUM and tOSU, 10 years from now Wisky, MSU, Iowa and Nebraska (maybe) could be bottom feeders and Illinois could be as solid as Wisky. IMHO, only scUM and tOSU are almost certain to remain strong and only IU is almost certain to never reach a BTT. With the right coach, any of the others can reach near the top or be near the bottom, just as the power shifted from East to West in the SEC.

It looks unbalanced, because Iowa is down now. If they follow their roller coaster trajectory they've been on the past decade, they'll be on the upswing in the next few seasons (due to good recruiting during their Orange Bowl run) and then in a few years down because of the bad recruiting now.

[GilThorpe]

it doesnt matter that much , imo, as the B1G isnt staying at 14 for long and we will likely never see the 9 game scheudle they are talking about. if we do expand further east , things will change again.

[Murphys Pub]

Mike Thomas deserves a raise if that's how the divisions end up. That is much more favorable for Illinois than what was previously being proposed.

[Dan]

Divisions debate down to Indiana, Purdue

One team needs to move West, and speculation has centered on three schools: Purdue, Indiana and Michigan State. But Michigan State isn't in play to move West, sources say, and the debate now is whether Indiana or Purdue enters the "West" division..

Barring a change in the discussions, Indiana-Purdue will be the only protected crossover, as the Big Ten wants to create as much flexibility as possible with its schedules.

Rittenberg

Indiana to the West-



Purdue to the West-

[troyk]

Big Ten West = Big 12 North