First, you can't base who goes to the conference championship game only on division records. Imagine a 5-3 conference record team winning the CCG and representing the B10 in the Rose Bowl.
Also, i am for putting M and OSU in different divisions. Its (incredibly) unfortunate that it means that The Game will have to be played earlier in the schedule. However, lets give the scenario where M has not lost a conference game and the second place division team has lost two. Does M hold back its top players in preparation for the CCG next week? Obviously, it won't, which means that by playing full out v. OSU they are at a disadvantage where as they should have been rewarded for being previously undefeated.
Essentially there are two schools of thought. 1. M and OSU in the same division playing in the last week of the regular season. 2. M and OSU in opposite divisions playing earlier in the season as a protected rivalry with the chance to play again in the CCG. I think this is the biggest debate in setting divisions, not geography v. competitive balance.
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First, you can't base who goes to the conference championship game only on division records. Imagine a 5-3 conference record team winning the CCG and representing the B10 in the Rose Bowl.
Also, i am for putting M and OSU in different divisions. Its (incredibly) unfortunate that it means that The Game will have to be played earlier in the schedule. However, lets give the scenario where M has not lost a conference game and the second place division team has lost two. Does M hold back its top players in preparation for the CCG next week? Obviously, it won't, which means that by playing full out v. OSU they are at a disadvantage where as they should have been rewarded for being previously undefeated.
Essentially there are two schools of thought. 1. M and OSU in the same division playing in the last week of the regular season. 2. M and OSU in opposite divisions playing earlier in the season as a protected rivalry with the chance to play again in the CCG. I think this is the biggest debate in setting divisions, not geography v. competitive balance.