Big Ten Divisions Being Announced Tonight

Still digesting the rumored split. First reaction: I like it. My only real concern is that the bottom half of our division is significantly lighter than the bottom half of the opposite division.

I still think it will be a mistake in the long term to separate Michigan and OSU. I also can’t imagine that Wisconsin’s happy about Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota all being in the opposite division. In my eyes, those moves threaten the kind of long-standing traditions that have kept the conference so strong for so long. But, as a PSU fan, such matters are of secondary concern to me.

We only get one of what I would consider our top five rivals (Ohio State, Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, and Michigan State). Although I guess that could change when they announce cross divisional rivalries.

But on the plus side, I will enjoy taking Michigan’s place as the last regular season game of the year against Ohio State. I wonder if they will continue to say we don’t have a rivalry.

I think Iowa and Wisky will be protected and we will get Nebraska. If they are serious about competitive balance and they pair up UM-OSU, then PSU-Neb makes sense to keep things even.

Maybe Joe’s desire to destroy Brent (yes, I know his real name) Bielema into oblivion until he’s fired will keep him going for the next 10 years (assuming Brent lasts that long, I’d really enjoy another 2008-esque meltdown.

I wouldn’t mind keeping them if there was 2 protected rivalries, but I doubt that happens. I would think that if the bigtwelven will be smart enough to maximize big game potential and give us Nebraska

i gotta believe we get one of the Big 3 in the other divison for our rival…

OSU vs. Mich
Wisconsin vs. Iowa
Penn State vs. Nebraska

No 8pm kickoffs in November per Big 10 rules. I would rather have last weekend in October so we can have a night game, something that makes for a great atmosphere.

There are rumors out there that UM and OSU will still get to play the last game of the year. I think that’s kind of dumb if so. Nobody should have to play a team outside of their division on the last game to avoid a rematch the following week.

PSU-MSU as a rivalry game. And since MSU is as much of a rival as UNL is, which do you think will happen?

It will feel more real from the begining than MSU did, though the MSU thing has gotten good the last 10 years, at least I thought so.

Everyone seems to point to our 2002 matchup with Nebraska as one of the best games of the past decade (and possibly of all time). What game against MSU can you agrue belongs in that category?

but as our premier cross divisional game, I guarantee our game won’t take as long to develop the rivalry feeling to it.

Michigan State-Second best in their own state, hideous trophy, hasn’t been consistently good since the 50’s-60’s
Nebraska-One of the top programs of all time. Rabid fanbase. 1994.

It’s “forced” for now, but this is a future that will be far brighter than playing Michigan State or Pitt. And for the first time in decades, we’ll have an end of the season game that the rest of the nation will care about as well.

You’re in the minority on this one. The reason the PSU-MSU always felt contrived is because there was never anything on the line when the two teams played. When Nebraska and PSU play, there will be plenty on the line. And though their history goes back 20 years, a lot of people remember those games and seasons. This will be a huge game.

…but sometimes I think you’re just contrary for the sake of being contrary. No one cares about the Land Grant “rivalry.” It could be because it’s contrived, but more importantly, IMO, it’s because it’s a contrived “rivalry” against a mediocre team. While it’s nice to beat MSU by 30+ and keep them out of bowl contention, I don’t view it as any different than beating NW.

Conversely, look at teams like Iowa and OSU. What history did we have with them before joining the B10? But are they important games now? Of course they are, because all three teams are traditionally good, and the games actually matter in terms of deciding the conference champion.

Now look at Nebraska. This is a team headed back towards perennial Top 15 stature. You don’t want this as the last game? You don’t want the last thing that the media/coaches/voters see is us beating a ranked team? This doesn’t give us that “sex appeal” heading into the BCS debate? You’d rather paste a conference also-ran by 30+?

Nebraska is a no-brainer in terms of forging a meaningful rivalry. 1994 is just the icing, not the cake itself…

Bingo. All about the Benjamins, baby.

Not crazy about the MSU-IND and Iowa-Pur rivalries. But you make a point that Iowa gets Minn, Neb, and Michigan in their division, so there are three rivals right there.

For the moment, I’ll believe the rumors that Mich-OSU will remain on the last weekend. That means at least one other crossover has to be on the final weekend, and it could be 3 or all 5. Here are my guesses:

MICH – OSU
NEB – PSU
IOWA – MINN
PUR – IND
NWU – ILL
MSU – WISC

Poor Wisconsin still gets stuck with a season-ender they don’t care about, but at least it’ll be the same team every year (which they haven’t had for some time now). It would make more sense to pair up PSU-MSU and Nebraska-Wisconsin on the final Saturday, but as of right now, neither game looks like it will be protected annually.

Iowa-Purdue is a complete WTF pairing

You just have to talk about it right. It is the battle over which gold is the correct gold for a black-and-gold team to wear.

If it isn’t Nebraska, it’s going to be Michigan State. I am developing a very bad feeling that we’re going to get screwed in the only way we can. OSU/Michigan on the last week of the season, and Michigan State (no Nebraska) as our protected “rival”.

they will say they are big10 conference “whatever” division co-champions. They just got snubbed for the CCG

Whichi is why Nebraska and PSU has to be a protected rivalry. Let these powerhouse programs start building hate for each other.

The only problem is that they already have Michigan.

Imagine, PSU/Alabama every year.

This whole thing is about $$$. It’s where it both starts and ends.

I think they are done for now. They got their 12th team and a CCG. I think expansion is on the back burner again.

But going to a nine game conference schedule could change that, because it puts Notre Dame in jeopardy of losing their rivalries with Michigan, Purdue, and Michigan State. If other conferences like the SEC and ACC go to nine games to keep up with the Big Ten, Notre Dame is in a world of problems and may come begging to join. Then we could be going through all of this again.

If Notre Dame and Texas are off the table (which they likely are), I don’t think there is any team out there that can immediately increase the Big 10’s per team revenue. I think this means that we will only expand as a defensive move against other potential super conferences.

Delaney has asked permission from the Hopi Nation in Arizona to rent their community center tonight. OK, makes no sense, but neither did LeBron’s venue.

Even if they wanted to, the BTN has this one all the way. Ah the advantages of having your own network.

I hate BBall, but my friend loves it and wanted to watch the “announcement”, he said screw it after 15 minutes. This at least holds a little interest for me.

They didn’t change when they added Penn State. They aren’t changing now.

If they do, just alter the logo to hide a 12 instead of a 11 they have now, which is kind of cool.

I have an open thread set up for 7 PM and everything. I know you can’t resist open threads.

plus, I’m sure they’ll at LEAST count in tiebreakers.

And finally, they may know their OWN divisional records, but there would still be other conference games that could affect whether or not they actually win their division, so they won’t know for sure before the game.

With all that said, end-of-season cross-divisional games are the sux.

doesn’t make sense – that they won’t count in the standings.

btw, I think I’d speak on behalf of the majority of Husker fans to say we’d be more than happy to meet you guys at the end of each season.