If you have a two division Big 10, do you put UM and OSU in the same division? Or, one in each division. Then, it gets weird because they might play each other twice every other season if they both stay where they are. That would be strange. I think that's why the Big 10 is dragging its feet to add a 12th team.
Look at the Big 12. They killed the Oklahoma-Nebraska rivalry, and basically, that conference sucks. Who the hell is interested in the Big 12? Their biggest game, the Texas-Oklahoma game is played early in the season, after that it's a bunch of crap like Baylor Vs Kansas WOW!!!
I say to either get the 12th team and then play ten conference games plus your three non con games. That gives you 13 games. One more week to stay in the limelight. Or, schedule a "conference bye" week, so the final game for everyone is a week later and the other conferences don't have three weeks to play while you twiddle your thumbs.

I would put U of M and OSU in the same division. That way there isn't a rematch and at least the rivalry game would decide who plays in the Big Ten championship (almost every year), so it wouldn't lose luster.

I would do an East and a West division, with basically lake michigan dividing the divisions:

East
OSU
U of M
MSU
Penn State
Purdue
Indiana

West
Wisc
Iowa
Minnesota
Illinois
Northwestern

Since you still play every team but 1 in the Big 10, the strength of the teams in your division really doesn't matter much. I'd like to see them add another team to make it 12, but I'm not sure who they'd add (Notre Dame would be nice but it won't happen). Maybe a MAC team like Northern Illinois or something I guess. Or get Cinci and move Indiana to the West.

Then you play your 9 conference games (5 against division foes, and a round robin against the other division for 4 games). All the rivalries are preserved that way (OSU/U of M/MSU and MSU/PSU/Purdue).

Iowa St. would make some sense since they have Iowa already.

Not sure if they have the students, the stadiums or the facilities, though.

If DePaul had a football program that would be another possibility.

edit- or they could pull Louisville or Pitt out of the Big East

edit2- new thread

Iowa St. would make some sense since they have Iowa already.

Not sure if they have the students, the stadiums or the facilities, though.

If DePaul had a football program that would be another possibility.

edit- or they could pull Louisville or Pitt out of the Big East

ISU would be a good choice. I didn't think of anyone already in a BCS conference (besides Cinci, but the big east is a lesser BCS conference IMO).

Here's an interesting thought: NEBRASKA
They have always hated being in the "big" 12, they thought it was a creation to benefit the Texas schools, and the "big" 12 killed their rivalry with Oklahoma.
If you are going to create a two division conference, you got to have some power, or a name school in the division that does not include UM, OSU, and Penn State. Otherwise, you HAVE to split those three up. You can't have the biggest names in one division.
Look at the "big" 12--the only school with ANY tradition in the North is Nebraska. I say Jim Delaney, if he's serious (and if the Big 10 EVER gets over the fact that Notre Dame just isn't soming to the party), should make a play for either a Nebraska, or a "BIG" name Eastern school, so an east-west format could be drawn up to split up UM-OSU-PSU.
Interestingly, Rutgers is often mentioned. They have a great coach and a new committment.
Iowas State would be a mistake. They suck, and they always will. The Big 10 has enough lumps of shit already.

I'm not sure Nebraska would make that move, but I'm for it.

Chris, I'll let them know you're on board.

Thanks. I'm sure they were waiting on my input.

Notre Dame isn't a possibility anymore?

Notre Dame is a bunch of punks... they will never join the Big Ten.

They've been asked at least 3 times that I can recall.

How many times does Notre Dame have to say "F*** YOU" to the Big 10 before they get the point?

I hope you guys don't mind this breach of ettiquette, but I just rated my own thread a FIVE STAR thread.

notre dame will never join a conference unless the tv deal dries up with NBC.

I hope you guys don't mind this breach of ettiquette, but I just rated my own thread a FIVE STAR thread.

This is encouraged, actually.

Whoa, wait a second, it's down to 3 stars, how'd that happen?

It just went down to a 2-star, so I had to take matters into my own hands.

Back to 3.

To balance out you guys who are trying to sabotage my ratings, I just gave myself a ONE STAR! HAHAHAHAHAH!

According to our records you have already voted on this thread. Changing votes is not allowed.

[smilie=party2.gif]

EDIT: http://www.wtfdetroit.com/forums/fB_Light/rating/rating_3.gif

Pitt makes the most sense.

They are good enough academically(#54 overall per US News), they have solid FBall and Bball programs. Geographically they are closer to the rest of the Big Ten than Iowa or PSU.

And the Big Ten, with football being the only sport that needs divisions, should go like this:

UW
Minn
MSU
UM
Illinois
NW

OSU
Iowa
PSU
Indy
Pitt
Purdue

Pretty much a N/S split. Last game of the season is inter section Rivalry day, MSU/PSU, UM/OSU, etc.

Tough second division there with OSU, Iowa, PSU, and Pitt. Overall, that one looks pretty good, though. I like it, and I'll give Jim Dleaney a call!

The Western division looks a little bit easy there... I just want to make sure the Michigan/OSU rivalry stays. Don't let it end up doing a Nebraska/OU.

Tough second division there with OSU, Iowa, PSU, and Pitt. Overall, that one looks pretty good, though. I like it, and I'll give Jim Dleaney a call!

Pitt isn't going to be good, for a few years at least in the Big Ten, I think that they could after a couple years of adjustment, but MSU destroyed them last year, so I have doubts about them, that was pre-collapse though.

Pitt isn't going to be good, for a few years at least in the Big Ten, I think that they could after a couple years of adjustment, but MSU destroyed them last year, so I have doubts about them, that was pre-collapse though.


At the begining of the 11 team system PSU's football program suffered because they joined the Big Ten, so even though Pitt would need to adjust I don't think that will be a detractor long term.

I would venture to guess if the BCS system with no playoff system continues at least 5 more years the Big East will be removed from automatic bid status. If that were to happen Pitt, WV, Louisville and Cincy would likely look to move to be part of BCS conference. The fact that WV, Rutgers, and Louisville choked allowed the Big East to avoid heavy criticism do to the lack of conference depth and wasy schedules. If that were to happen the Big Ten could easily add 12 the team that fits their overall model.

Im cool with Penn State, but I dont see a need for a 12th team or for splitting the conference. It just breaks up tradition more, and as mentioned before the Big 12 has been a joke since they took that route. Theres hardly two games per year that matters in that conference. Keep it how it is, the rotational schedule can suck but we cant be playing 14 games a year.

I'm cool with Penn State, but I don't see a need for a 12th team or for splitting the conference. It just breaks up tradition more, and as mentioned before the Big 12 has been a joke since they took that route. Theres hardly two games per year that matters in that conference. Keep it how it is, the rotational schedule can suck but we cant be playing 14 games a year.

I see your point but I think there is a big difference between going from 11 to 12 teams as opposed to what the Big 8 did when they became the big 12.

With the Big twelve it sucks because they added too many schools with no established football tradition, and did a horrible job in creating the divisions. It is the OK TX division and everyone else who is left in the other. Baylor for example has no business in the conference, nor does ISU and to a lesser extent neither does Texas Tech.

I think the Big Ten's rich tradition would not be hurt by modernizing. As long as the rivalry games are unaffected I see it as no big deal. It in reality is only 1 extra game for two teams not an extra game for all 12. They could even probably arrange it so that Michigan is in one division ,OSU in the other to create balance. However they play the last regular season game per tradition, but if both are in sole possession of their division title in the last week that game becomes the conference championship instead of playing the game twice.

Im cool with Penn State, but I dont see a need for a 12th team or for splitting the conference. It just breaks up tradition more, and as mentioned before the Big 12 has been a joke since they took that route. Theres hardly two games per year that matters in that conference. Keep it how it is, the rotational schedule can suck but we cant be playing 14 games a year.

I can certainly see how a Wisconsin fan would want to keep the scheduling exactly how it is now, lol.

I'm just not in favor of a championship game where OSU and U of M could play each other, because that would happen most years. Imagine if that happened this year. What if U of M beat OSU in the Big Ten title game in a close game. Would there be a 3rd game between them for the BCS title?

I'm not a big fan of the rematch at all (though I think U of M deserved it over Florida this year). Putting OSU and U of M in separate divisions would almost ensure that happens every year.

Does it have to be North/South or East/West? In the ACC they have it called Atlantic and Coastal. Why does it have to be done geographically? It's not like they have to travel far. I'm not sure what you'd name the divisions, but I'd like to see them divided this way:

Division 1
OSU
U of M
MSU
Purdue
Northwestern
Indiana

Division 2
Wisc
Penn State
Iowa
Minnesota
Illinois
Pitt