abox03

As a Big ten Guy for my while life... you cannot convince me that OSU, UM, PSU, ND, MSU in one division is not absurd. I realize your big 12 experience and I understand that...but that was a haphazzard marriage. Big ten has about 100 years of proof that while strength can change year by year...overall OSU and UM have won almost 75% of the championships. Having them and then adding tradiontal powers of PSU and ND along with occasional upstart MSU....Nebraska, Iowa, Wisky and Minnesota will NEVER match that. Never. EDIT: by Never I do NOT mean to say that those schools cannot win the conf...thats ridiculous. I say that those 4 schools will never match the overall collective power on a consistent basis of OSU, UM, PSU, ND. They never have.

The only problem is that OSU and Michigan have won 34 and 42 big ten titles respectively. The next CLOSEST is Minnesota with 18 whose last one was in 1967........yes 1967. I have always thought this was going to be a huge problem with expanding the Big Ten. OSU and UM must play each year. If it decides a division, then it is hardly fair for the other 6 teams in the east (cuse, rutgers, indiana, msu, purdue) which I don't think are ever going to compete yearly for the title. Add PSU to the mix and now you have a very very very heavy east division. While the west certainly improves with Nebraska (I cannot bring myself to say NU because thats Northwestern haha), it is just very hard to argue that the west is equal to the east. Bring in Notre Dame...and that adds another issue all together. ND has rivalaries with MSU, UM, Purdue, Syracuse that moving them to play in the "west" is illogical. Now you add ND to OSU, UM, PSU haha... So what to do?

From the Big Ten Blog write on ESPN. "Division alignment: The Big Ten also must figure out divisions in the coming months. Delany listed three main criteria for sorting them out: competitive fairness, maintenance of rivalries and geography. He stressed that competitive fairness is the No. 1 priority, which I believe to be the correct approach. Geography shouldn't determine divisions. You don't want another Big 12 South scenario. " Not saying they will split OSU/UM but what other options? Sending PSU to the "west" doesn't make sense but perhaps that is the only option. Personally I don't see why they can't be in separate divisions and still play yearly. I'm not sure that competitive fairness is actually what should be the prime criteria. If the Big 12 showed anything, it's that the power shifts from one division to another over time - and back - and that teams can rise and fall over the period of a few years. What's "competitive fairness" in 2011 could be an unbalanced conference in 2021. you are new to the big ten...so I will show you why I dont think that is right...as it stands now Big Ten titles won by the would be west team past 20 years (* shared by an east team) 2004 Iowa *Michigan 2002 Iowa *Ohio State 2001 Illinois 2000 NW, Purdue, *Michigan 1999 Wisconsin 1998 Wisconsin *Ohio State, *Michigan 1996 NW *Ohio State 1995 NW 1993 Wisconsin *Ohio State Only 9 seasons did a would be east team win the title and only 3 (15%) won it without sharing it with an east team. It get's worse the more you go back and then its pretty much only OSU and UM. The big ten is very much an east heavy conference. EDIT: And notice which two teams are usually the sharing culprit. OSU and UM.

From the Big Ten Blog write on ESPN. "Division alignment: The Big Ten also must figure out divisions in the coming months. Delany listed three main criteria for sorting them out: competitive fairness, maintenance of rivalries and geography. He stressed that competitive fairness is the No. 1 priority, which I believe to be the correct approach. Geography shouldn't determine divisions. You don't want another Big 12 South scenario. " Not saying they will split OSU/UM but what other options? Sending PSU to the "west" doesn't make sense but perhaps that is the only option. Personally I don't see why they can't be in separate divisions and still play yearly. If its 12 or 16 teams you still only play 5 or 7 division games which leaves at least 2 (as many as 5) out of division conference games where UM and OSU can still play.

Great insight!!!!!!!!!!!!! We need more minds like you!

Possibly....but look at what MOST LIKELY would have been the result of this format this year.. 1. Alabama (SEC Champ) 2. Texas (Going to give them the nod over Oregon in the "New" Pac 10) 3. Boise State (the new Mtn West Champs over TCU) 4. Ohio State (Big Ten Champ) 5. Georgia Tech (the new ACC champ over Cincinnati) 6. Cincinnati 7. TCU 8. Florida So on Saturday in NOLA you would have: Alabama v Florida remach Boise State v Cincinnati On Sunday you would have: Texas v TCU Ohio State v GA Tech ...hard to imagine because the teams would ahve different conf affiliations than last season, but that might draw some good crowds. At Tempe, you would have two games: Alabama v Ohio State Boise State v Texas and in Pasadena, Bama v Texas.... I think the TV ratings would be huge...my opinion.

Or move OSU to the west division....but putting PSU and OSU and UM in the same division doesn't help the conference IMO.

In regards to splitting OSU and UM... I think the B10's problems is that as it stands the weight of the conference is the east. If we add ND...it more so puts pressure on the east....you cant have PSU, OSU, UM, ND, MSU in one division...ouch...i think if you split OSU and UM and still have them play each year (you have to play at least 2 teams in the other division) it would be ok.

Ah and the rest.... 5 major conferences.... There would be a National tournament of 8 teams that would be decided as follows: 1. Each of the 5 league champions automatically get a bid. 2. A formula like or similar to the BCS will be used for seeding those teams 1-5 in order of their ranking in the formula. 3. The next three highest teams in the formula that are not champions of their conference are then invited and seeded 6-8. First round. A two day event at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, LA 1 vs 8 Game 1 2 vs 7 Game 3 3 vs 6 Game 2 4 vs 5 Game 4 Final Four. Next weekend in Tempe, Arizona @ Fiesta Bowl. 1/8 vs 4/5 Game 1 2/7 vs 3/6 Game 2 Championship. Rose Bowl Game, Pasadena, California.

Just some idle thoughts here...but when all is said and done...I think this is most likely how the dominoes will fall. I feel there are some shaky pics and I have bolded those. Give me yours thoughts! Big Ten East Syracuse Rutgers Penn State Ohio State Michigan State Notre Dame Purdue Northwestern West Michigan Indiana Iowa Wisconsin Minnesota Nebraska Illinois Missouri Pac Ten West Washington Wash St Oregon Oregon St USC UCLA Stanford California East Arizona Arizona State Colorado Oklahoma Texas Texas Tech Oklahoma St Baylor SEC East Florida Georgia Tennessee Kentucky South Carolina Vanderbilt West Virginia Louisville West Alabama LSU Mississippi Arkansas Auburn Mississippi St Texas A &M Pittsburgh ACC Atlantic Clemson Boston College Florida St Wake Forest NC State Maryland Cincinnati East Carolina Coastal Georgia Tech Virginia Tech Miami North Carolina Duke Virginia South Florida Connecticut Mountain West North Air Force Wyoming Boise State Colorado St Iowa State Kansas St Nevada Kansas South TCU UNLV BYU Utah SD State New Mexico Hawaii Fresno State

Welcome in 2011 Nebraska!

Basically...no one from the general public made comments...so they are now in a closed session "upstairs" to talk about it.

The shiny helmets are part of the plan. The bright shine in the sun, along with the flash of Pryor's speed, leaves you in your dust! (One design flaw, they don't work as well in the night lights) haha With one exception...2006 @ Texas

Everyone dreams about playing Ohio State

Notre Dame hasn't been relevant for a while. They would just fit with the Big Ten since they play so many Big Ten teams. Texas doesn't fit with the Big Ten at all. I doubt Texas would last long in the Big Ten. I tend to agree...but think about this conference sked with the divisions i put up.... Texas @ Texas A & M Nebraska @ Texas Texas @ Wisconsin Minnesota @ Texas Purdue @ Texas Texas @ Iowa Texas @ Illinois Michigan @ Texas Texas @ Penn State/Ohio State I would argue that beats their conf sked now.

Oh, so you play your 7 other division members and 2 members of the other division on a rotating basis for 9 conference games. 3 non-conference. Perhaps even 10 conference and 2 non. East v West champions meet in St Louis or Indy for Big Ten Championship. Be an awesome regular season with those two divisions.

The New Big Ten Big Ten West Texas Texas A & M Nebraska Minnesota Iowa Wisconsin Illinois Purdue Big Ten East Notre Dame Northwestern Indiana Michigan Michigan State Ohio State Penn State Rutgers Thoughts?

First of all...as an Ohio State fan, it's great to welcome some competition into the conference!! Just kidding to my B10 brethren. There are some things you should know about each team...I saw a list previously, but wanted to start a new topic. Feel free to comment or add on it as you see fit. Penn State: Joined in 1990, Football in 92 I believe. For those husker fans who think that they can come in an dominate the Big Ten, you need only look to the lions. They have won only 3 big ten titles (only one outright) in football since joining (94, 05, 08). They have a rabid fan base and a great stadium and awesome blue band. Just be sure Memorial stadium has a bathroom close by for JoPa. Ohio State: Obviously the blue chip of the league in football as of late. 5 consecutive Big Ten titles and 6 of the 10 the past decade. The shoe is an amazing and loud environment along with The Best Damn Band in the Land and Script Ohio. We have a rabid fan base too that can be a bit overwhelming at time, but take it all in stride and realize not ALL buckeye fans are nuts/idiots, just most . Michigan: Where to begin. Arrogant. They think they are above the rest of the conference. The big house is...big...but not very loud and resembles a large hole in the ground. In a bit of peril right now with RichRod, but they wont be down forever. OSU v Michigan is big, even if they CLAIM that MSU is bigger. MSU: Beautiful campus. Nice place to watch a game on a fall afternoon. Thing about MSU though...no matter how good a season they start...they always screw it up in the end. If NU plays them early...watch out...however if they are on your schedule late in the season...some disasterous even will have already happened and they will be in a free fall. Always happens. But good luck getting a win in the Breslin Center. Indiana: Football practice. Assembly hall is rich with history, even if IU bball hasn't been the greatest of late. Purdue: SNEAKY. They haven't been truly good in FBall since Drew Brees yet they somehow seem to take an upset each year. Good Basketball. Northwestern: GREAT school. Really good at the olympic sports. Occasionally have a basketball upset or two. Football is on the way up, but will probably never consistently be in the top 3. Just dont sleep on them, they are capable of beating you. Illinois: Football is a mess right but, but they have lots of tradition. They will get it back (without Zook I would imagine) and be formidable again. Weber and basketball is good and assembly hall (illini version) is an orange crush of a good time. Wisconsin: Camp Randall Stadium and the jump around are fun times. Wisky seems to do well in football year in and year out, yet seem to falter in one game they should win. Any trip to Madtown is a tough go...be it Camp Randall or the Kohl Center...getting a win in Madison is like conquering a virgin..it can be done, but man is it hard. Minneosta: New stadium and good facilites. Their FB program is on the upswing and will be back. The Barn is just a cool place with the elevated floor. Tubby smith is a good coach too. Iowa: Not impressed with kinnick stadium but their fans are rabid. Always seem to put out of competitive football and basketball product. Finally, the Big Ten is more than just playing football on Saturdays or cramming in basketball arenas in the winter. We have a mutual respect athletically and academically for all other Big Ten members. We root for them (even Michigan...well sometimes Michigan) against other out of conference foes. I realize the Big 12 had issues with Texas and others controlling things, but the Big Ten is equal from NW to Ohio State and that works best for us. So welcome to the Big Ten (or whatever it is to be called) and this buckeye will be rooting for you to succeed (unless of course you are in Columbus).