It seems to me like this is something that should have been done from the beginning, but now with PSU being done, the divisions seem awfully lopsided. We have a perfect opportunity to not only level out the sides, but get rid of the ridiculous "Legends and Leaders" titles. This is the best way to do it, in my opinion -
B1G East
Ohio State
scUM
Michigan State
Penn State
Purdue
Indiana
B1G West
Wisconsin
Illinois
Northwestern
Nebraska
Iowa
Minnesota
It's geographically applicable, the names sound a lot more respectable, and the talent level is a lot more evenly distributed. Each side has 3 legitimate contenders for the next several years (OSU/scUM/MSU and UW/Iowa/Nebraska), as well as some teams that could surprise and a bottom-dweller.
Thoughts?
I think our division would be a lot tougher at the top. But if MSU drops off the way some are predicting with ttun's improvement, it would make for a really weak division overall. Especially since PSU is likely to take a nose dive. It would mess up geography, but maybe trade the two Indiana schools for the two Illinois schools? That might shift power too much, other option could be just to trade PSU for Iowa or something along those lines.
One sports-writer proposed naming the divisions the Black & Blue divisions...seems appropriate to me.
"Paralyze resistance with persistence." -Woody Hayes
swap Iowa for MSU and I think it's good. Michigan, OSU, Iowa Wisconsin, MSU, Nebraska
I think that gives you #1, #2, #6 and #3, #4, #5 teams in the B1G in the respective divisions.
Getting the divisions somewhat equal is more important than splitting them up geographically. Can care less what they call the divisions. Unfortunately, I don't see PSU going anywhere, so unless we add two more teams, I doubt a restructuring takes place.
Those who stay will be CHAMPIONS!
~Bo Schembechler
Sure it's fun to guess... but is there REALLY a realistic chance of realignment? Honest question. Is this something the conference would really do?
Shouldn't Michigan be in the West division, though? I mean, their fight song does proclaim them, "Champions of the West."
I like OSU/Michigan separate. I know that it defiles the sanctity of The Game, but until we get two more consistently proven powers in the conference I just can't see loading one division with far and away the conferences two best teams.
I have always hated the fact that Ohio State and Michigan have not been in the same division. Solely because it leaves open the possibility of having to beat Michigan twice in two weeks to win the Big Ten or get into the national playoff. If they stay in separate divisions then I think the game should be moved to earlier in season. I know that may destroy some of the sanctity of the game, but having had friends who played on both sides of the rivalry, they have all stated that it would be awful and near torture to play in back to back weeks. Rivals not playing in back to back weeks is why Alabama and Auburn have always been in the same division. That and obviously they are geographically very close just like Ohio State and Michigan.
I think any restructuring would need to look at historically whose been at the top and not whose hot now in terms of making the divisions even.
To men it kinda seems like the way the $EC is laid out.. Lsu and bama and we have scum and osu to where the other division is weaker than the other..
The release from the B1G said realignment was off the table, fwiw.
OP - That's the way it should have been from the start...IMHO.
To those talking about the $EC west being stronger than the east, remember that just a few years ago the east was much stronger when Tennessee and Florida were good and they were playing a piss poor Arkansas team in the champioship game.
I dont like it. Wisconsin would go to the B10 championship every year if it was like this.
Hodge, Strongly disagree on scUM/OSU in different divisions. Look at how well that separationg of rivals worked for the ACC in FSU/UM.
The Ohio State University, College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2006
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Class of 2009
Even if this were to happen (which sounds now like it won't) Id say you'd probably wouldn't be able to call the divisions B1G East and West for the obvious reason of The Big East...Im sure there would be some sort of trade name infringement. Besides would we really want the B1G name to be in any way shape or form confused with or inadvertently mentioned in the same breath as the Big East Conference?
Battles are sometimes won by generals; wars are nearly always won by sergeants and privates. Football is no different, the guys down in the trenches win the games, not the coach.
@Bed, see the former Big 12 South division for what would happen if UM/OSU were in the same side. In the absence of a decent Nebraska team (a regular occurrence lately) the winner of our division rolls the championship game. You need to have at least one power on each side, and Wisky and Neb haven't proven to have staying power at that level.
When told OSU set school record for 50+ games this year, UFM said "That's good. We're gonna break that next year."
@BigBad It's still the BIG TEN Conference, regardless of the logo shorthanding "B1G," so there's not really an issue there. Anything is better than the stupid Leaders/Legends, though.
@Bias Iowa has still won the B1G in recent memory as well. I think that Bucky has gotten stronger recently, and Nebraska's stock is rising since they joined us. Big XII was an aberration IMO, look at the SEC. The East was dominant for a while, and now the West is.
The Ohio State University, College of Arts & Sciences, Class of 2006
The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, Class of 2009
IMO Michigan should absolutely be in our division. Idiotic that they are not.