Since Nebraska, as of this minute, is likely to join the Big Ten, I think it might be cool to see how we'd split teams up into the two six-team divisions (if the conference indeed creates divisions). The usual way is by geography, so I've made two set-ups, one East-West and the other North-South:
EAST
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
WEST
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
================
NORTH
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Michigan
Michigan State
SOUTH
Indiana
Illinois
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Nebraska
If the North-South divisions were used, we could still play our five divisional foes each year while playing Michigan as one of the three non-divisional opponents annually. Of course, that problem is avoided totally by the East-West structure.
Any other ideas?
EAST
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
WEST
Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Wisconsin
================
NORTH
Iowa
Minnesota
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Michigan
Michigan State
SOUTH
Indiana
Illinois
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Nebraska
If the North-South divisions were used, we could still play our five divisional foes each year while playing Michigan as one of the three non-divisional opponents annually. Of course, that problem is avoided totally by the East-West structure.
Any other ideas?