The new Big Ten divisions

 What the new B1G divisions should look like

 

By: Ryan Klund

There has been a certain amount of speculation about how the Big Ten's two divisions will look in 2014 when both Maryland and Rutgers join the conference. Most of that speculation is coming from unconfirmed reports and hearsay. 

Adding the two new schools should be a reason for Big Ten officials to fix the current configuration and strengthen the conference. (not to mention changing the division names... Leaders and Legends just haven't sat well)

Here is how I see think things should shake out:

WEST                            EAST

Nebraska (PSU)             Ohio State (MI)

Wisconsin (Rut)             Penn State (Neb)

Minnesota (Mar)           Maryland (Minn)

Iowa (Pur)                      Rutgers (WI)

Michigan (OSU)            Northwestern (Ill)

Michigan State (Ind)     Purdue (Iowa)

Illinois (Nor)                   Indiana (MSU)

(*) = denotes the protected rival

This configuration protects rivalries, reignites others and creates new ones. It also gives some order to the divisions; they're split geographically and each conference has two 'power schools' (Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State).

Wisconsin:

Wisconsin keeps its annual rivalry Minnesota, gets back its Iowa 'Little Brown Jug' match-up, and plays Rutgers every year. Rutgers and Wisconsin both seem to be currently playing at the same level.

Nebraska:

Nebraska keeps its rivalry game with both Iowa and Penn State, and gets a few more annual regional match-ups (Minnesota, Illinois and Wisconsin).

Michigan:

Michigan is all about Ohio State and Michigan State, they keep both those rivalries and add Wisconsin and Nebraska each year. 

Michigan State:

MSU gets to keep Michigan as an annual opponent, keeps its 'rivalry' with Indiana and also gets to add Wisconsin each year (which seems to be a growing rivalry).

Penn State:

Big upgrade for Penn State. They keep their rival in Nebraska and add two more regional opponents in adding Rutgers and Maryland each year. They also will always play Ohio State. 

Ohio State:

Of course Ohio State keeps Michigan. The Buckeyes also keep Penn State and border rivals Indiana and Purdue. 

Iowa:

Iowa keeps its rivalries with Nebraska and Purdue and adds Wisconsin back into the mix. Iowa and Wisconsin were big losers when the first divisions were set. 

Indiana:

Indiana keeps its 'rivalry' with MSU, they also keep rivals Northwestern and Purdue. I bet there will be HUGE ratings for that annual Maryland-Indiana match-up. 

Minnesota:

Of course they'll keep playing Wisconsin. This configuration makes more sense for the B1G's Northwest outlier, starting new rivalries with all the western teams.

Northwestern and Illinois:

These two schools keep their rivalry with each other and act as the midpoint in the two divisions. Both teams get good border rivals. 

Rutgers and Maryland:

Hey, they get to play each other... that's good, right? It is good, and both get annual games with border team Penn State. Rutgers takes on Wisconsin each year and Maryland with Minnesota.