The Only Big 10 Alignment That Makes Sense

This one is so simple that even an Art History major could figure it out (Sorry but it’s true, they are all idiots).  The answer to Big 10 divisions is plainly obvious to anyone with functioning brain.  A simple geographic, West/East split is the best available option; not a perfect option but the best.  Personally, I can’t figure out the fascination with over thinking this.

I find it more frustrating than watching Canadians attempting to play sports.

When looking at a purely geographic alignment, a few things come to mind.  First, is that both sides would be competitively balanced.  As Barry Alvarez has recently stated, there are 6 teams that have separated themselves from the pack.  Separating teams by geography would put three of the elite teams in each division.

Some could argue that the West would actually end up being the deeper division of the two.  Obviously Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa are all top programs but even Northwestern has developed into a solid program under Pat Fitzgerald.  Illinois has made a recent Rose Bowl appearance and Minnesota has been to two straight bowl games.

The East Division would be much more top heavy with Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.  Although, Michigan sucks and Penn State’s tradition isn’t nearly at the level that their fans think it is (See only two national championships).

The rest of the division would just be a gift to the top three.  It doesn’t get any better than playing Purdue, Michigan State, and Indiana every year.

If Michigan or Penn State would be placed in the West, as some “experts” have stated; you could end up with a brutal West and a cakewalk for Ohio State in the East.

Next, the geographic alignment would keep all important rivalries intact.  It would ensure that Michigan-Ohio State would be played every year, as well as all in-state rivalries such as Purdue-Indiana  (As if anyone would even notice if they didn’t play).

This alignment would also allow for new regional rivalries to emerge.  In the West, you would have Nebraska-Iowa or Nebraska-Wisconsin being played every year.

This alignment would be beneficial to travel as well.  For those who say that travel time doesn’t matter; don’t let them fool you.

    Travel Time=Real Dollars

With a conference that reaches half way across the country, every effort should be made to keep it as regional as possible.  Penn State fans shouldn’t be forced to travel 20+ hours several times per season.

Division alignment will also impact travel in other sports.  For instance, scheduling in SEC and Big 12 basketball are set around division alignment.  So consider sports that play weekday games and don’t have a large football sized budgets.

    Trust me, travel time matters.

One argument that has been raised against a strict geographic split is that that Michigan and Ohio State would no longer decide the conference championship.  I don’t see how this could possible diminish the rivalry.  They will still hate each other just as much and the rest of us will still watch on TV.

Do you think that Auburn-Alabama hate each other any less because they don’t play in Atlanta at the end of the year?

    Texas-Oklahoma?

What about South Carolina-Clemson? They don’t even play in the same conference.  In my opinion, playing each other twice, in back to back games would just make the rivalry less interesting, not more.

Jim Delany is a shrewd decision maker and an astute business man (Or so I thought before finding out he is lawyer).  As evidenced already by adding Nebraska to the Big 10 and placing the conference championship game in Indianapolis, he knows what he is doing.  I would be surprised if he screwed this up and decided to go another way.

Geographic divisions work in the SEC and have worked in the Big 12.  There is no reason to try to get cute here.

    As Michael Scott would say, K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid).

One last thing that has nothing to do with conference alignment but it’s rather something I just need to get off my abnormally hairy chest.  Can we for the love of god, stop referring to the Big 10 as an academically superior league, any league that includes Iowa and Nebraska shouldn’t be touting its intellectual superiority over anybody.

    Well maybe the SEC.