Division Realignment

Aligning divisions by geography is antiquated and stupid. Football teams fly to basically every game at this point, going to Michigan excluded. So what’s even the point of aligning them by geography (especially when Maryland and Rutgers are on our side of that anyway, notable far away places.) also, I don’t think that is controversial to say that the divisions are imbalanced and have been basically since they started the division format.

So I submit to you, the swill where I know it will get maximum attention, a way to fix this that is sensible. Every 5 years (or less even. Maybe 3-4.) add up all of the big ten records since the last time the divisions were realigned and alternate putting teams into divisions. If this sketchy source is to be believed (one of the first things I found that had an approximation for the time period I’m looking for, it’s 6 years which is too many, but I’m not adding up all of this myself until you get me in the big ten offices arguing for it) then you’d have divisions that looked like this

https://michigan.rivals.com/news/a-look-at-the-big-ten-standings-since-jim-harbaugh-took-over-at-u-m-in-2015

OSU division

OSU
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois

Wisconsin division

Wisconsin
Penn state
Northwestern
MSU
Nebraska
Maryland
Rutgers

If you did that going into this year, then in 2025/26 you’d realign the divisions again to ensure competitive balance and every few years thereafter. Wouldn’t that make more sense than putting all of the good teams in one division forever because of geography?

AvgMSUJoe wrote:To avoid the annual let down against osu?

Shit, could just join the big 12 and win a ship every year.

Purely coincidence that we wouldn’t be in OSUs division, I didn’t know that would be the case when I pulled up the records- but at the same time, yeah it would make sense to me to mix those things up rather than give Wisconsin a free ride to the championship game every year

Remove Maryland and Rutgers from the Big Ten and get rid of the divisions. Swap one non-conference game for a conference game.

The Pantry wrote:Remove Maryland and Rutgers from the Big Ten and get rid of the divisions.  Swap one non-conference game for a conference game.

We know that they’re not going anywhere. It’s like jumping into the lions thread every week to say “the fords should sell the team” like yeah sure but it’s not going to happen so we might as well talk within the bounds of the possible

Leaders and Legends was fine I agree

aualum06 wrote:Leaders and Legends was fine I agree

No, you like geography-based divisions.

https://spartanswill.forumotion.com/t17032-do-you-think-the-big-10-needs-to-re-evaluate-the-divisions?highlight=divisions

Turtleneck wrote:

aualum06 wrote:Leaders and Legends was fine I agree

No, you like geography-based divisions.

https://spartanswill.forumotion.com/t17032-do-you-think-the-big-10-needs-to-re-evaluate-the-divisions?highlight=divisions

I knew I have talked about this before but I didn’t know where thank you turtleneck

They definitely need to rethink it. I like the idea of changing them up every 5 years.

AvgMSUJoe wrote:To avoid the annual let down against osu?

Shit, could just join the big 12 and win a ship every year.

And lose out on the opportunity of destroying Michigan’s hopes of winning a Big Ten east title along with Ohio State? Hard pass.

Turtleneck wrote:

aualum06 wrote:Leaders and Legends was fine I agree

No, you like geography-based divisions.

https://spartanswill.forumotion.com/t17032-do-you-think-the-big-10-needs-to-re-evaluate-the-divisions?highlight=divisions

Nice find. Maybe the big ten west should show something

Get rid of divisions. Schedule set by previous years results. 1 v 2 in Championship Game. No protected rivalries.

This is madness! Maaaadness!!!

Warde Manual has submitted the following proposal.

The Get to Indy Football Division

Indiana
Illinois
Maryland
Michigan
Minnesota
Northwestern
Rutgers

Last Team Standing Division

Iowa
Michigan State
Nebraska
Ohio State
Penn State
Purdue
Wisconsin

Dendrobates wrote:They definitely need to rethink it. I like the idea of changing them up every 5 years.

Is Nevets aware of your philosophy and does it extend to the bedroom?

tGreenWay wrote:

Dendrobates wrote:They definitely need to rethink it. I like the idea of changing them up every 5 years.

Is Nevets aware of your philosophy and does it extend to the bedroom?

Please don't be that poster, GreenWay.

Turtleneck wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:



Is Nevets aware of your philosophy and does it extend to the bedroom?

Please don't be that poster, GreenWay.

Too late, Turtleneck.

Michigan State football should be realigned to Big Ten West

https://spartanavenue.com/2021/12/05/michigan-state-football-should-move-big-ten-west/