Big-10: Michigan and Ohio State in separate divisions!

[Drako]

I simply do NOT understand why the Big Ten is making such a big error in judgement. The correct thing to do is this:

Place OSU and Michigan in the same division. Have those two play the last game of the regular season. If those two teams are good, that game will have huge ramifications.

If the two teams are in separate divisions, then they may play twice. I think this situation would cheapen THE GAME. Which one is THE GAME? the first one or the second one?

:thumbsup:

I think most fans of THE GAME agree 100% with the assessment.

 

[endlessmike]

:thumbsup:

I think most fans of THE GAME agree 100% with the assessment.

I don't disagree with this, but then what's the point of a championship game if the top two teams are only going to play in the regular season? If the game with the highest ramifications isn't the championship, what's the point of it? That's why I don't like the idea of two divisions, period.

 

[rcpratt]

Why are we still talking about UofM being a top team, again?

Divisions should just be geographical. All of this crap is cyclical anyways, there's no point in trying to set it up correctly for *right now*.

 

[Drako]

I don't disagree with this, but then what's the point of a championship game if the top two teams are only going to play in the regular season? If the game with the highest ramifications isn't the championship, what's the point of it? That's why I don't like the idea of two divisions, period.

Michigan has not been a top team since Rich Rod took over. Other teams like Penn State, Iowa, Wisconson, and next year Nebraska, are certainly better at this point in time. Are you suggesting that Ohio State and Michigan should always be in the championship game?

 

[endlessmike]

Why are we still talking about UofM being a top team, again?

Divisions should just be geographical. All of this crap is cyclical anyways, there's no point in trying to set it up correctly for *right now*.

Exactly my point. If there's a championship game, it should be the between two best teams, period, and not the best team from over here, and the best team from over there.

 

[endlessmike]

Michigan has not been a top team since Rich Rod took over. Other teams like Penn State, Iowa, Wisconson, and next year Nebraska, are certainly better at this point in time. Are you suggesting that Ohio State and Michigan should always be in the championship game?

Oh good lord, not at all, I'm just offering a hypothetical counterpoint. Let's say two teams from the same division (PSU, OSU, Mich, Wisconsin, whoever, doesn't matter) are 11-0 and play each other in the last regular season game. The winner of that game goes on to the championship, to play the #1 team from the other division. The #1 team from the other division could be 9-3 or 10-2, so the championship game is not being contested between the two overall best teams, whoever they may be. That's all.

 

[Drako]

Oh good lord, not at all, I'm just offering a hypothetical counterpoint. Let's say two teams from the same division (PSU, OSU, Mich, Wisconsin, whoever, doesn't matter) are 11-0 and play each other in the last regular season game. The winner of that game goes on to the championship, to play the #1 team from the other division. The #1 team from the other division could be 9-3 or 10-2, so the championship game is not being contested between the two overall best teams, whoever they may be. That's all.

Yeah, that's going to be a problem with any conference with divisions.

It's never going to be entirely fair, because each team only plays 8 of the other 11 teams in the conference.

 

[Gibsons]

Oh good lord, not at all, I'm just offering a hypothetical counterpoint. Let's say two teams from the same division (PSU, OSU, Mich, Wisconsin, whoever, doesn't matter) are 11-0 and play each other in the last regular season game. The winner of that game goes on to the championship, to play the #1 team from the other division. The #1 team from the other division could be 9-3 or 10-2, so the championship game is not being contested between the two overall best teams, whoever they may be. That's all.

I don't think it's that big of a deal. The Super Bowl isn't always between the two best teams, neither is the SEC or Big 12/whatever game, and not the BCS/MNC game. If the two best teams happen to be in the same division, then the game between them might be the defacto championship. I don't think that's a deal breaker, both teams have their shot.

 

[endlessmike]

If the two best teams happen to be in the same division, then the game between them might be the defacto championship. I don't think that's a deal breaker, both teams have their shot.

That's what I mean, then the championship game doesn't really matter. Earlier in the thread someone mentioned that if OSU and Mich. were in the same division and both top teams again someday, the Game will have huge ramifications.

There were many, many seasons where that was the case. The night game a few years ago they were ranked #1 and #2, and it was an epic, classic game. I think it would be sort of a letdown to have to go to Ford Field to play 9-3 Nebraska, Purdue, or Wisconsin after that.

Not saying it's right or wrong, I get that's how a lot of the other conferences are, I just don't really care for it. I don't like the idea of college playoffs, hate when the Rose Bowl isn't Big 10/Pac 10, and most definitely don't want to see the Game not be the last regular season game, at least.

 

[Train]

That's what I mean, then the championship game doesn't really matter. ....

Don't ever say that. Just because you beat the #2 team in the conf doesn't mean the conf championship game against #3 or lower is meaningless.

Just look at Nebraska last year nearly knocking Texas off during the Big 12 championship. If Texas had lost, they would be out of the BCS game. And even if they weren't up for the BCS game, they would have went from a Guarenteed BCS bowl (~ $15 million avg paout) to a non-BCS bowl (like $4 million avg payout)

In college football, EVERY game matters.

 

[Train]

Official anouncement of the divisions will be 7 PM tonight.

Just posted on ESPN:

The Big Ten will announce its much-anticipated, two six-team divisional setup for the 2011-12 season later Wednesday, with traditional football powers Ohio State and Michigan in opposing divisions and new member Nebraska aligned with the Wolverines.

Multiple sources told ESPN.com that the two divisions in the Big Ten will look like:

• Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern and Minnesota.

• Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.

The Big Ten issued a press release saying it would announce its divisional alignment at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday. According to sources, the divisions were decided upon Monday.

According to multiple sources, the Big Ten wanted to preserve a number of traditional rivalries such as Michigan-Michigan State, Iowa-Minnesota, Purdue-Indiana and Indiana-Illinois.

The Big Ten is also expected to announce a consistent crossover game in football similar to Ohio State-Michigan that will be played each year. Expect to see longtime rivals Wisconsin and Minnesota playing every season.

In men's basketball, according to sources, the Big Ten could play a 16-game conference schedule by taking a model similar to those used by the Big 12 and Southeastern conferences. In those leagues, teams play each division opponent twice and then single games -- three at home and three on the road -- against teams in the opposing division.

However, the Big Ten has not had complaints with its current 18-game conference schedule and could stick with that format and have one 12-team division in basketball.

The Big 12 will finish such a format this season after it loses Nebraska -- the Cornhuskers are joining the Big Ten as its 12th member -- and possibly Colorado, if the Buffaloes can leave the Big 12 for the Pac-10 while paying its exit fee.

If the Big 12 goes to a 10-team conference then it will play a true round-robin schedule of 18 games in 2011-12. The new Pac-12, with the additions of Colorado and Utah, also will likely use this new format of 16 games after playing a true-round robin of 18 games as a 10-team league. The Big Ten played an 18-game conference season and will finish with that unbalanced schedule this season.

 

[endlessmike]

Don't ever say that. Just because you beat the #2 team in the conf doesn't mean the conf championship game against #3 or lower is meaningless.

Just look at Nebraska last year nearly knocking Texas off during the Big 12 championship. If Texas had lost, they would be out of the BCS game. And even if they weren't up for the BCS game, they would have went from a Guarenteed BCS bowl (~ $15 million avg paout) to a non-BCS bowl (like $4 million avg payout)

In college football, EVERY game matters.

Again, I don't disagree 100%, of course the championship game counts. But Mizzu was 2nd place behind Nebraska in the Big 12 North last year, 4-4 in the conference. Nebraska could've been 5-3, or even 4-4 if they still beat Mizzu, and still played Texas for the championship. You can't really say that losing three or four conference games and still having a shot at your conference championship still means that every game matters as much as it used to.

 

[Train]

Again, I don't disagree 100%, of course the championship game counts. But Mizzu was 2nd place behind Nebraska in the Big 12 North last year, 4-4 in the conference. Nebraska could've been 5-3, or even 4-4 if they still beat Mizzu, and still played Texas for the championship. You can't really say that losing three or four conference games and still having a shot at your conference championship still means that every game matters as much as it used to.

But the important part you are glossing over is that Nebraska almost won. The Big 12 didn't just hand Texas the conf trophy because they had a better regular season record.

 

[Gibsons]

Official anouncement of the divisions will be 7 PM tonight.

Just posted on ESPN:
According to multiple sources, the Big Ten wanted to preserve a number of traditional rivalries such as Michigan-Michigan State, Iowa-Minnesota, Purdue-Indiana and Indiana-Illinois.

Wow, thank goodness they saved Indiana-Purdue and Indiana-Illinois. The Indiana fans will very happy about this.

 

[Drako]

Yeah, the forked it up .

Division Woody
OSU, Illinois, Indiana, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Division Bo
Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

Freaking stupid. I now look forward to the October OSU v Michigan game .

 

[Jadow]

So Wisconsin got 100% screwed over.

This sucks hardcore

 

[rcpratt]

Yeah, the forked it up .

Division Woody
OSU, Illinois, Indiana, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.

Division Bo
Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.

Freaking stupid. I now look forward to the October OSU v Michigan game .

What are you talking about. It's still the last game of the season.

I'm pretty sure everyone feels like they got screwed. Purdue and Iowa drew each other for the cross division rivalry...what? Penn State had half their rivalries destroyed. I'm pretty sure the only people that actually like this are Michigan, OSU, and Nebraska (who has a killer, but awesome schedule the first two years).

The amount of dick-sucking on OSU and Michigan on the TV show tonight was pathetic. I am not exaggerating when I say I hope a meteor hits the Shoe on November 27.

 

[gigahertz20]

I can't wait until Saturday to watch Penn State play....FINALLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!! Next week though, it might be a little hard to watch Penn State play......I just hope we keep it a close game with Alabama.

 

[Drako]

What are you talking about. It's still the last game of the season.

I'm pretty sure everyone feels like they got screwed. Purdue and Iowa drew each other for the cross division rivalry...what? Penn State had half their rivalries destroyed. I'm pretty sure the only people that actually like this are Michigan, OSU, and Nebraska (who has a killer, but awesome schedule the first two years).

The amount of dick-sucking on OSU and Michigan on the TV show tonight was pathetic. I am not exaggerating when I say I hope a meteor hits the Shoe on November 27.

Yeah, I did not see the whole press conference. I just assumed they would not schedule an out of division game as the last game of the season. I did not fathom that would do that, seeing that you could have an OSU v Michigan game two weeks in a row if they won respective divisions.

LOL and the dick sucking comment. It's one of the oldest rivalries in college football, going back to 1897, so there are going to be a lot of strong feelings about the game.

 

[Drako]

I can't wait until Saturday to watch Penn State play....FINALLY COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS HERE!! Next week though, it might be a little hard to watch Penn State play......I just hope we keep it a close game with Alabama.

Plenty of games to watch tomorrow too! I'm taking off work early tomorrow to watch the Indiana v Towson game .

 

[postmortemIA]

This is what they wanted when they invited Nebraska to B10.

 

[Drako]

This is what they wanted when they invited Nebraska to B10.

LOL, who is "they".

 

[foghorn67]

So Wisconsin got 100% screwed over.

This sucks hardcore

Huge Buckeye fan actually agrees with you.

 

[endlessmike]

But the important part you are glossing over is that Nebraska almost won. The Big 12 didn't just hand Texas the conf trophy because they had a better regular season record.

You shouldn't be able to go 4-4, play well in one last game, and be the champ. It just leaves it open for too much goofy crap to happen. It's not the NFL, and it's not March Madness.

Anyhow, I guess I better deal with it, huh? At least OSU/Mich. will still be the last regular game. I agree with everyone that the divisions are wacky and Wisc. got the short end of it, but this was bound to happen when a 12th was added.

 

[Train]

LOL, I didnt watch the anouncement, are they really called Division Woody and Division Bo, or is that a joke?