# Big 10 Division Split **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [August 26, 2010, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514 "2010-08-26T10:37:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/41 "2010-09-01T01:59:01Z")
Nebraska alum here. I am terribly excited about joining the Big Ten. We know how losing rivalries stinks, as we lost NU-OU in the Big XII. My hope is the Big Ten kept that into account when they took Nebraska. Of course, as a Husker fan, I wouldn’t mind a straight East-West split 😉 Try this Big Ten division creator: [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/42 "2010-09-01T02:14:26Z")
I never understood why the Big XII didn’t keep a protected rivalry game. Of course the only true rivalry lost when the Big XII added the Texas teams and split to North/South was the OU/NU game. And, if I were dividing the conference, I wouldn’t not get to caught up and make “geographical” divisions. The ACC didn’t do that and I think it working out well. Call one division the “ **Cold as Sh\*t** ” division and the other “ **Flat as Sh\*t** ” division. Just kidding Midwest people! ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/43 "2010-09-01T02:19:56Z")
Cold as Sh\*t Minn NW Wisc Iowa Penn Mich St Flat as Sh\*t Ind Ill Neb PU OSU Mich ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/44 "2010-09-01T15:03:20Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > Try this Big Ten division creator: > [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5) Wow, this is a cool app. The most recent version is at [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94). My North-South split above scores a 91. A straight East-West split scores as highly, depending on how you set up the protected cross-divisional games. ---
**Author:** ![mcgato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac8455/32.png) [@mcgato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mcgato)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/45 "2010-09-01T15:04:14Z")
> [@treis](#): > > Preserves all of the rivalries that matter (except perhaps Mich-Minn) and keeps the divisions pretty balanced. For the last 25+ years, Michigan v Minnesota is a rivalry similar to insect v windshield. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/46 "2010-09-01T15:26:10Z")
Adam Rittenberg, who blogs the Big 10, had this to say: > [@](#): > > I see your point about actually having a Big Ten title game, but both Michigan and Ohio State always went through the season building toward their annual matchup at the end. That one game serves as a portion of the season schedule, just like the nonconference portion and the conference portion. I know one thing: if they move The Game to earlier in the season, I’d love to be the coach facing Ohio State or Michigan the week after they play. Can you say letdown? Here’s another argument for keeping The Game on the final Saturday of the regular season: You play Ohio State-Michigan at noon ET and Penn State-Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Big Ten can OWN the day in college football. Would it be good for the league if Ohio State and Michigan met in the championship game? Sure, but it’s far from a guarantee. Just look at the ACC with Miami and Florida State. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/47 "2010-09-01T16:07:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Here’s another argument for keeping The Game on the final Saturday of the regular season: You play Ohio State-Michigan at noon ET and Penn State-Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Big Ten can OWN the day in college football. If those ‘powerhouse’ games went up against a SEC doubleheader of Georgia/Florida and Bama/LSU, I can guarantee that I (and a lot of other people) will be watching the SEC. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/48 "2010-09-01T16:09:52Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Here’s another argument for keeping The Game on the final Saturday of the regular season: You play Ohio State-Michigan at noon ET and Penn State-Nebraska at 3:30 p.m. ET. The Big Ten can OWN the day in college football. > > If those ‘powerhouse’ games went up against a SEC doubleheader of Georgia/Florida and Bama/LSU, I can guarantee that I (and a lot of other people) will be watching the SEC. Yeah, good for you, but the SEC wouldn’t play those games on the last Saturday of the regular season anyway, so it’s moot. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/49 "2010-09-01T18:00:00Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > > [@HubZilla](#): > > > > Try this Big Ten division creator: > > [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=5) > > Wow, this is a cool app. The most recent version is at [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94). > > My North-South split above scores a 91. A straight East-West split scores as highly, depending on how you set up the protected cross-divisional games. They lost me when I was penalized for not maintaining the Illinois-Ohio State rivalry. Uh, what Ohio State Illinois rivalry? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/50 "2010-09-01T18:05:14Z")
> [@treis](#): > > > [@Skammer](#): > > > > Wow, this is a cool app. The most recent version is at [http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94](http://theorynine.com/blog/?p=94). > > > > My North-South split above scores a 91. A straight East-West split scores as highly, depending on how you set up the protected cross-divisional games. > > They lost me when I was penalized for not maintaining the Illinois-Ohio State rivalry. Uh, what Ohio State Illinois rivalry? [Illibuck!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illibuck) ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/51 "2010-09-01T18:19:23Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > > [@treis](#): > > > > They lost me when I was penalized for not maintaining the Illinois-Ohio State rivalry. Uh, what Ohio State Illinois rivalry? > > [Illibuck!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illibuck) :smack: I forgot about the stupid turtle. (Though technically I would call that a trophy game, not a rivalry). ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/52 "2010-09-01T18:22:45Z")
The rivalries (and “rivalries”) are weighted – so, for example, OSU-MI counts more than OSU-IL. So far my best score is 92, with a straight east/west split and the correct “protected” games. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/53 "2010-09-01T18:25:24Z")
That wikipedia article makes me chuckle though: > [@](#): > > Originally the “trophy” was a live turtle when the tradition began in 1925, picked for its long life expectancy as a symbol of the long life of the rivalry. Since the passing of the original turtle in 1927 LOL oops! ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/54 "2010-09-01T18:28:15Z")
Andy Katz is reporting the divisions are: Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota. Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois As a Wisconsin fan, I find this disastrous. First, we’re opposite not just Iowa and Minnesota, but also Nebraska. Second, if they were going to split Michigan and OSU, I definitely wanted to be on the Michigan side. Even putting aside self interest, I think this is a terrible way to split. The Big Ten is really making a horrible mistake here. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/55 "2010-09-01T18:35:13Z")
It’s also being reported that the protected cross-division games are: OSU/UM Nebraska/Penn St. Iowa/Purdue Wisconsin/Minnesota Illinois/NW Indiana/MSU ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/56 "2010-09-01T18:40:04Z")
Well, based on that Big 10 division application we linked to, this scores a 92% overall with an A+ for Competitiveness, an A- for Rivalries and a B for Geography. As an NW fan, I don’t like not playing Wisconsin each year but it could have been worse. What I don’t like _more_ is not being able to refer to Northwestern as NU anymore to avoid confusion. It’s in our cheer! ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/57 "2010-09-01T18:41:56Z")
I ran that split through the Division Creator, and got a 92 (100 competitiveness, 85 rivalries, 62 geography). Assuming Katz’s reporting is correct, it seems the split is being done with an eye towards competitiveness _now_, and the possibility of an OSU/Mich conference championship game. I wonder how much they took into consideration Iowa and Wisconsin’s upward trajectory. ETA: Skammer beat me. I also wonder whether football is the predominant consideration for the split. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/58 "2010-09-01T18:42:01Z")
> [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > > [@notfrommensa](#): > > > > If those ‘powerhouse’ games went up against a SEC doubleheader of Georgia/Florida and Bama/LSU, I can guarantee that I (and a lot of other people) will be watching the SEC. > > Yeah, good for you, but the SEC wouldn’t play those games on the last Saturday of the regular season anyway, so it’s moot. OK, give me a double-header involving any two of these three games UGA/GT FSU/UF BAMA/AUB ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/59 "2010-09-01T18:44:39Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > > [@MOIDALIZE](#): > > > > Yeah, good for you, but the SEC wouldn’t play those games on the last Saturday of the regular season anyway, so it’s moot. > > OK, give me a double-header involving any two of these three games > > UGA/GT > FSU/UF > BAMA/AUB I’d put Bama/Auburn at close to the same level as OSU/Mich. Nobody outside of Florida and Georgia is going to care about the other two games. ---
**Author:** ![TheFifthYear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@TheFifthYear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFifthYear)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514/60 "2010-09-01T18:44:48Z")
I’m taking these reports with a grain of salt, if only because Barry Alvarez (supposedly) carries a lot of weight in the Big Ten and has been intimately involved in this process, and I can’t see him letting UW get worked like this. On the other hand, if I’m Iowa and Nebraska, I’m positively thrilled with this alignment. Especially Iowa–they end up with only one other strong team in their division (that’s right, Michigan fans, only one) and they get Purdue as a protected rival? Sheesh. Pencil them in for the championship game at least half the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-10-division-split/551514.md?page=4)