The Beginning of the End?

The Big Ten Conference Network (BTCN) is set to announce the new divisions and schedules for 2011. According to multiple sources, Ohio State and Michigan are being placed in opposite divisions. Despite some rumors, the question of whether The Game will remain the final game of the regularly scheduled season is still a mystery.

ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that the divisional alignment will look like this:

A DIVISION	B DIVISION
Illinois	Iowa
Indiana	Michigan
Ohio State	Michigan State
Penn State	Minnesota
Purdue	Nebraska
Wisconsin	Northwestern

Objectively speaking, this has to be seen as a major step in the wrong direction for supporters of a final week meeting between the Big Ten titans. As I previously pointed out, almost no one had an appetite for a rematch of Ohio State and Michigan in 2006 and that was for the National Championship several weeks later. That is not lost on the BTCN, so I find it hard to believe that the idea of the two playing a rematch seven or 14 days later is more palatable.

I have read the rumors, but I will believe it when I see it. As of right now, I expect The Game to be moved. (Typing that was horrible.)

What a buzz kill in advance of the opener.