Throughout the day on Tuesday, various reports meandered their way across the vast expanses of the Internet stating that the Big Ten could announce Wednesday night exactly how they will split 12 schools into two six-team divisions.
A report and subsequent confirmation from the conference this afternoon has taken that “could” and trumped it with a “will”.
The Associated Press reported earlier this afternoon that the Big Ten will announce their divisional splits Wednesday night after reaching an agreement on the two divisions earlier in the day. Shortly after the AP’s report, the Big Ten confirmed the announcement will be made tonight.
From the conference’s release:
The Big Ten Conference will announce football division alignments to begin with the 2011 season tonight at 6 p.m. CT. In addition, Big Ten Commissioner James E. Delany will be available via teleconference to discuss the announcement at 7 p.m. CT.
The announcement of the divisions will be made on the Big Ten Network.
As to how the divisions might be shaped, there are rumors flying all over the the Internet, with absolutely nothing being confirmed and seemingly conflicting from one piece of speculation to the next.
Perhaps the only agreement from those in a position to be in the know is that Ohio State and Michigan will most certainly be placed in separate divisions, a sure sign that the rumored movement of The Game from the end of the regular season to perhaps as early as late October will indeed take place.
One final time ahead of the announcement, here’s our last best guess as to how the two six-team divisions may look after the announcement tonight:
AVARICE DIVISION Ohio StatePenn StateWisconsinPurdueIllinoisIndiana
GLUTTONY DIVISION MichiganNebraskaIowaNorthwesternMinnesotaMichigan State
Kind of a smart move.
You will have Ohio State vs Penn State every year.
Michigan Vs Nebraska every year
then if there is one cross over game each year
you will have Ohio State vs Michigan and
Penn State vs Nebraska EVERY YEAR
4 games that are sure fire BIG RATINGS!!! Now watch the Big Ten Network have rights to at least 1 of those 4 big games each year.
ESPN just showed the division alignments as Andy Katz is reporting.
Also, this free press report says that Michigan & Ohio St will continue to play last reg season game despite being in different divisions. (I’ll believe that when I see it)
http://www.freep.com/article/20100901/SPORTS08/100901043/1054/SPORTS06/Reports-U-M-OSU-are-on-separate-sides-still-at-end
The Big 10 USED to be the lone conference that stood up for tradition.
Now they have fallen prey to the almighty dollar just like the SEC and Big 12
Anyone who honestly thinks the Big Ten would end OSU/Um is just foolish. Oklahoma did that with OU/NU and it has hurt the Big XII so much that Nebraska would leave for the Big Ten.
The divisions are as even as they can be.
As Bigdog stated, Neb playing PSU and UM every year and OSU playing Mich and PSu every year would be huge.
Imagine this: 1st week of October:
Michigan versus Ohio State
Nebraska versus Penn State
Imagine this: 1st week of December:
Michigan versus Nebraska
Ohio State versus Penn State
Winners of those games likely playing a week later for the Big Ten title….
yeah, that is one heck of a smart model.
@imabigdog
As long as Michigan is still down, it won’t matter if they play Nebraska. It’ll suck. Ohio State-Nebraska would be way bigger every year. And believe me if Ohio State-Michigan isn’t the last game, I can’t even imagine how much sh*t is going to hit the fan tonight.
Ohio State-Michigan is the biggest rivalry in sports. Spliting that up is maybe the dumbest thing Jim Delany could ever do. Ohio State will definately be gunning for his resignation.
Here’s a fact:
The two divisions are very equal when it comes to academics.
The Gluttony Division has the elite academic schools (especially with Northwestern & Michigan)
Can’t break up Wisco and Minny. Unless they do it like Mich and OSU where they will still play every year. Removing them from Iowa and Minny can’t be done since that is their two rivals.
Oklahoma and Texas play early, and that works fine for both.
Michigan sucking removes the impact of “The Game” happening at years end.
Now, OSU/UM can go at it in October, and again in December, keeping Big Ten in the media during December.