Realign or Get rid of Divisions?-best options

Submitted by Sidepaluofm on

 

The west division of the big ten is a joke. 

I was looking at our schedule and talking to a badger fan about how easy their schedule is. It is gonna be Wisco out of the west until something structurally changes.  

Wondering what Mgoblog thinks we should do: 

1) Get rid of divisions-go back to old school (one big conference) standings: conference championship game

2) Realign east/west divisions to equal out power balance, keep guaranteed rivalries, no conference championship game. 

3) Realign east/west divisions to equal out power balance, keep guaranteed rivalries, conference championship game 

4) Something else?

corundum

September 15th, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^

Either #1 or nothing. You can't just keep realigning the conference every few years when it gets unbalanced. The SEC east has been shit for approaching a decade and they just keep plodding along. You also can't get rid of the conference championship game because of how integral it is to the playoff selection process.

mgobleu

September 15th, 2017 at 5:37 PM ^

All this divisional gerrymandering has to end somewhere. Next you're going to tell me we should get rid of the electoral college!

 

*leans back from computer*

 

 

Ypsiwolverine

September 16th, 2017 at 3:25 AM ^

10 teams with longest conference tenure in one division, remaining schools in the "Money Money Money" division. Winner of former plays in the Rose Bowl, winner of the latter plays anywhere else. No championship or required crossover games. Keep the newer teams for "branding" purposes.

AZBlue

September 15th, 2017 at 6:48 PM ^

I think there is a decent chance we see both Oklahoma and Texas added to the B1G in the next 5 years.



If that happens - you bump Purdue to the East and the balance -- at least based on historic levels -- is restored.



Easiest and best solution - will give some long breaks between meetings with only 2 crossover games per year and 8 crossover opponents but outside of Minnesota and the Jug not much lost.

We are back

September 15th, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^

Get rid of conferences, my solution is have 3 protected rivalry games for every school that leaves 10 schools, play first 5 one year play next 5 the next season. Keeps everyone playing everyone and protects your rivals.

Carcajou

September 16th, 2017 at 5:04 AM ^

Not sure how that plays out for everyone, but I like the 5 one year and 5 the next, rather than home and home with teams before you rotate.

Devin G. and Mario O. were saying they regret not getting the chance to play certain teams at all during their career. They'd rather have played them each at least once (home or away) than not at all.

He Hate Me

September 15th, 2017 at 5:59 PM ^

I vote we add Georgia Tech, Oklahoma, Texas, and Oklahoma St.

Re-align based on geography then and play a 10 game conference schedule.

I wouldn't be surprised if in the semi near future we see 4 "super" conferences - might as well get it started

Rochester Blue

September 15th, 2017 at 6:04 PM ^

I prefer 10 in the Big 10. Now that we're at this point, it's unrealistic to think we're losing teams.

I say, leave as it is. Eventually, someone like Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, or all 3, will start competing for the West title, somewhat consistently. Someone has to beat Purdue, Indiana, Rutgers, Illinois each year. If they get a few shots at the B1G title game instead of Wisconsin, they'll be able to sell that to recruits and build a competitor to Wisconsin. Then we'll someday have Michigan, Ohio State and maybe a 3rd, consistently going up against Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa and Minnesota. The West will get better. It'll just take time. You can't realign now. Maybe when we eventually (unfortunately) go to 16 teams.

stephenrjking

September 15th, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^

Well, just realigning the divisions isn't going to fully cut it, but let's get started.

Let's move Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, and Indiana into the B1G West. The division will probably be a bit too large, so Nebraska will rejoin Oklahoma in the Big 12. The western division of Michigan, OSU, MSU, Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa will then be known as the "B1G Ten." Penn State, Rutgers, and Maryland will then recruit BC, Syracuse, Pitt, West Virginia, Notre Dame, and Miami (YTM) and become known as the "B1G East."

Sounds good to me.

 

Mr. Yost

September 16th, 2017 at 8:07 AM ^

It's always going to be unbalanced. And all other sports which have east and west will too.

The balance of power shifts and you don't realign just because there's a competitive imbalance, OP.

There was a time not THAT long ago when the SEC EAST was the power in that conference.

The NFL has this as well...if you're in a weak division you get 6 games versus weaker opponents. The playoffs are overall record, not a poll. Almost every year a team gets in that shouldn't and a team from a tougher division is left out. It happens, that's sports.

The Eastern Conference and Western Conference in the NBA. The 9-11 seeds out West all make the playoffs in the East.

Mr. Yost

September 16th, 2017 at 8:14 AM ^

I'm much more concerned with Rutgers.

That should've been Syracuse, Pitt, Mizzou, or UVA if we were going to add.

Rutgers is a HUGE mistake.

Maryland and Nebraska. Perfectly fine if you had to expand. Rutgers shouldn't have been considered any more than Eastern Michigan. Mizzou could have helped your competitive balance a little by adding them and pushing Purdue to the east.