As expected, earlier today, the B1G Council of Presidents/Chancellors approved changes to the existing football divisions and the reinstitution of nine-game conference schedules.
The newly named East and West divisions will take effect in 2014 and play out like this:
| EAST | WEST |
|---|---|
| Indiana | Illinois |
| Maryland | Iowa |
| Michigan | Minnesota |
| Michigan State | Nebraska |
| Ohio State | Northwestern |
| Penn State | Purdue |
| Rutgers | Wisconsin |
The alignment puts all Eastern Time Zone teams in the East Division and all Central Time Zone teams in the West Division with the exception of Purdue.
The conference press release continues:
Each school will play the other six schools in its division plus two teams from the other division in 2014 and 2015, which will serve as transitional years in which the schools will still be playing eight-game schedules. Beginning in 2016, each school will play three teams from the other division as part of its nine-game schedule. The cross-division games will include one protected matchup on an annual basis between Indiana and Purdue.
On the scheduling, the nine-game conference slate will begin in 2016.
During even-numbered years, teams in the East will host five conference home games while the West squads will host five conference home games in the odd-numbered years.
The change brings back a nine-game conference slate for the first time since the 1983 and 1984 seasons.
During the 2014 and 2015 seasons, teams will play each of the other six schools in their division plus two teams from the other division.
