Should Michigan Move to the Big 10 West Division?

Submitted by justthinking on November 26th, 2018 at 5:58 PM

Since we cannot seem to beat our arch rival OSU on any consistent basis over the last 20 years of "modern day football" (4/20 including only 3/10 on our home field), is it time to finally break with "the unbreakable tradition" and shake up the divisions and schedules and have Michigan move to the West?

1) This would add more needed strength and balance to the West Division.

2) Gasp... we scratch playing OSU as the last regular season game of the year.

If Michigan wins the West division we still end up playing perennial East powerhouse OSU in the Big 10 Championship game (likely this happens 8-9 times out of 10). This would also keep us from playing them "back to back", in the last regular season game and Big 10 Championship game.

10 years ago I would have said no way to this idea, but after the last 10 maybe it is worth some consideration?

FWIW, I'm 50 and grew up with Bo's Michigan since I was nine in 1977. Forever Go Blue.

bluepalooza

November 26th, 2018 at 6:41 PM ^

These type of posts are really dissapointing. Yes, it has been a long dry spell.  But, it is going to change and the tide will change.  Yes, it is frustrating, but you don't quit, you step up your game. Bo fan? Really? I am sure Bo would want to move to West Division right? 

Njia

November 26th, 2018 at 6:51 PM ^

Great idea. While we're at it, let's just petition to go to the Quick Lane Bowl this year, because it's local to Michigan, and I'm pretty sure we'd come away with a "W." 

sharkey

November 26th, 2018 at 7:06 PM ^

East

Michigan

Ohio State

Indiana

Purdue

Penn State

MSU

West

Wisconsin

Iowa

NW

Minnesota

Notre Dame

Nebraska

If I left anybody out, sorry I like this

Sparty Doesn't Know

November 26th, 2018 at 7:10 PM ^

Why stop here?  Let's go Big 12!  At least when you give up 62 in the Big 12 nobody notices.

Team 101

November 26th, 2018 at 7:18 PM ^

Big Ten Red:

Indiana

Maryland

Minnesota

Nebraska

Rutger

The Ohio State

Wisconsin

Big Ten Other:

Illinois

Iowa

Michigan

Northwestern

Penn St

Purdue

Staee

Frank Chuck

November 26th, 2018 at 7:24 PM ^

I wish OP would stop "justthinking" and rather "justdrinkbleach"

"We can't beat our archrivals so let's run away to the other division so they stop breaking our hearts every year."

What a pathetic attitude. F off.

g_reaper3

November 26th, 2018 at 7:28 PM ^

Balancing the divisions would be ok.  Move Penn St, Maryland and Rutgers to the West and call it the Outer Rim Division.  Move Purdue, Illinois and Northwestern to the new Hub Division.  

Not playing OSU at the end is not ok. How do you cancel the best rivalry in sports?

 

FrozeMangoes

November 26th, 2018 at 7:53 PM ^

I mean I don't think they just get to move over even if they wanted to.  It isn't NCAA 2014. I would imagine the only way to get out of the East would be to go independent or join a different conference like the ACC. 

Mercury

November 26th, 2018 at 8:22 PM ^

Man.  I hate how I basically have to avoid this place for the time being. 

Yes, we're not where we want to be.  But the sky isn't falling either.

Carcajou

November 26th, 2018 at 8:56 PM ^

That pathetic.

Besides, we howled against the Leaders and Legends divisions, and talked about how stupid the possibility of a situation where there was a rematch of The Game and the conference championship a week later.

 

Beat Ohio

LabattsBleu

November 26th, 2018 at 9:46 PM ^

funny thinking back to michigan fans making fun of MSU for wanting to leave the conference after their loss...

Michigan needs to get better or has to wait until Meyer retires its looking like.

so, no...leave the conferences the way they are.

get better, don't move the goal posts.

Albatross

November 26th, 2018 at 9:53 PM ^

Or we could just move to the MAC and take over the conference. The Victors would never sound so sweet after wrecking Akron in the conference championship game!

0-4

November 27th, 2018 at 12:14 AM ^

Maybe if Michigan joins Conference USA they can win the league. Thats the kinda logic you're using. Michigan can't run and hide in a different division and think you're the best for winning in a weaker division. You have to man up and take the challenge head on. Those who stay will be champions, right?

 

Bluedream

November 27th, 2018 at 3:34 AM ^

Nope. 

It's worth too much to Fox to not play The Game every single year. They'd keep OSU as the permanent crossover game, heck they do it for Indiana/Purdue.  They'd probably keep MSU too!  

For that matter, it's no treat to play in Kinnick or Camp Randall every other year. 

Go independent, play ND, Stanford, USC and MSU every year. Easier than hiding out on the back 40 of OSU's conference if that's the goal of moving west.