BIG TEN Divisions and predictions.

The athletic directors of the BIG TEN had a huge problem when it came time to deciding divisions for the conference. Unlike any other conference, the BIG TEN is known for it's trophy games. Currently, the conference has 12 trophy games and that surprisingly doesn't include Ohio State vs Michigan. When the athletic directors met over a year ago, their main goal was to protect the trophy games so the rivalries would continue. Each school has at least one traveling trophy at stake. So they had make divisions where trophy games wouldn't be lost on a yearly basis.

As of right now, here are the teams with trophy games and the new divisions.

Division X
Illinois
Indiana
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Division 0
Northwestern
Michigan State
Michigan
Nebraska
Iowa
Minnesota


Division (starting in 2011-2012)

Illinois vs Northwestern
Sweet Sioux Tomahawk/Land of Lincoln Trophy
(Protected Cross-Over)

Illinois vs Ohio State
Illibuck
(Division X)

Illinois vs Purdue
Purdue Cannon
(Division X)

Indiana vs Purdue
Old Oaken Bucket
(Division X)

Indiana vs Michigan State
Old Brass Spittoon
(Protected Cross-Over)

Iowa vs Minnesota
*In 2008, Rivals.com named Floyd of Rosedale the top rivalry trophy in college football *
Floyd of Rosedale
(Division O)

Iowa vs Wisconsin *Rivalry is over 100 years old, trophy created in 2004
Heartland Trophy
(Cross-Over (Irregular)

Michigan vs Michigan State
Paul Bunyan-Governor of Michigan Trophy
(Division O)

Michigan vs Minnesota *Oldest trophy in College Sports, first made and used in 1899*
Little Brown Jug
(Division O)

Michigan vs Ohio State
No Trophy (UM-OSU Rivalry)
(Protected Cross-Over)

Michigan State vs Penn State
Land Grant Trophy
(Cross-Over (Irregular)

Minnesota vs Wisconsin. ( Longest Rivalry in the Nation at 120 games)
Slab of Bacon/Paul Bunyan's Axe
(Protected Cross-Over)

Minnesota vs Penn State
Governor's Victory Bell
(Cross-Over (Irregular)

Ohio State vs Penn State
No Trophy (OSU-PSU Rivalry)
(Division X)

The Big Ten football schedule is currently set up with each team having two permanent matches within the conference, with the other eight teams in the conference rotating out of the schedule in pairs for two-year stints.

Permanent matches are as follows:

Illinois: Indiana, Northwestern
Indiana: Illinois, Purdue
Iowa: Minnesota, Wisconsin
Michigan: Michigan State, Ohio State
Michigan State: Michigan, Penn State
Minnesota: Iowa, Wisconsin
Northwestern: Illinois, Purdue
Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State
Penn State: Michigan State, Ohio State
Purdue: Indiana, Northwestern
Wisconsin: Iowa, Minnesota

This system will be discontinued in 2011, as teams will be grouped into two divisions and will play all teams in their division once, will have one protected cross-over game, and have two games rotating against the other five opponents from the opposing division.
Most of the above permanent rivalries will be maintained.

The division alignments create new permanent opponents as all pairs of teams within the same division will face off each season. In addition, two new permanent matches are created inter-division: Purdue-Iowa and Michigan State-Indiana.

Some current permanent matches are maintained across divisions: Minnesota-Wisconsin, Michigan-Ohio State, Illinois-Northwestern.

The new schedule will however cause some of the above permanent rivalries to be discontinued. These are: Iowa-Wisconsin, Northwestern-Purdue, Michigan State-Penn State. These match ups will continue to be played, but only twice every five years on average.

Noel's take on things...


My thought on the divisions are that I think they were created pretty good.. I am really happy that there are protected cross over games like Minnesota vs Wisconsin and Michigan vs Ohio State. It is very important for those states and universities to have those rivalries. There is nothing better than going to Camp Randall when Minnesota is in town. Having the Little Brown Jug with the Minnesota vs Michigan rivalry will now be played every year and that is a great thing. That was great news for both schools. That is one of the most recognizable and oldest trophies in the nation. Hopefully Minnesota can get its act together and maybe make it a good rivalry once again.

I do believe that the Iowa vs Wisconsin rivalry took a hit, that rivalry has been going on for over 100 years. I know both schools were sad to hear that they will only play a couple of times in 5 years, but I do think that when the schools do meet, the intensity will be there, maybe even more so. The Heartland Trophy is very important for the BIG TEN.

I think that having Nebraska joining the conference is pretty neat. My belief is that Nebraska vs Iowa will become a great rivalry, maybe even Minnesota vs Nebraska.

Nebraska's Memorial Stadium is solid and fits into BIG TENS awesome student tradition and intense stadiums.

Even more so, the conference will have a championship game. That is what the BIG TEN needs and currently lacks right now. The BIG TEN has never been taken seriously because there hasn't been a championship game.

Here are my predictions for this year.

Big Ten Champion.

Wisconsin.

There only tough game is at the big house which I feel is win able. It maybe a shootout but I will easily take Wisconsin's offense as it poured 83 points last week. I also think Wisconsin's defense has a better chance stopping Robinson then Michigan's D stopping the explosive Bucky offense.

Ohio State will have a tough test @ Iowa and falter.

I still think Michigan State is overrated.

Thank you for your time,

Stay Fresh.

Noel