[NU Sports] Divisions

[Mike Nolan]

> It will be slightly amusing whenever Michigan and Ohio State both have their 
> divisions locked up and they play the big game twice in a row. Imagine Ohio 
> State wins the regular season game but then Michigan comes back the following 
> Saturday in the championship game and beats them for the BCS bid. That's the way 
> they wanted it I guess, but I doubt their fans will enjoy it when it happens. 

I wonder how often that will occur?  My guess is no more than once every 
four years or so, and then only once Michigan rights the ship.  But if
it happens too often (and is perceived as a bad thing when it occurs), the 
conference can always look at realigning the divisions down the road.

I guess the Big Ten is still hoping for a 9 game conference schedule starting
in 2014 or 2015, which is why they only announced schedules for 2011 and 
2012.

The assumption in the divisional topography is that Michigan and Nebraska 
will, over the long haul, be the two alpha males, but that will almost 
certainly not play out that way every year.  It wouldn't surprise me if 
2011 comes down to the Iowa-Nebraska game.  

Over in the other division, Penn State seems to have a problem beating 
Ohio State, and Wisconsin could bump both of them out of the title game 
a few times, but I'm really wondering how long JoePa will be able to hang 
in there, I hope he'll be be around for at least one conference game 
against Nebraska.

Nebraska is being 'welcomed' with a pretty heavy schedule in 2011, there's
a fairly good chance every one of their initial Big Ten opponents will 
make a bowl game in 2011, half or more could be ranked in the top 25.  
Their non-conference schedule already includes Washington, Fresno State 
and Wyoming.

We don't have Husker season tickets, but I might have to work on getting 
some for the 2011 Northwestern game.  And let's start thinking about
a list gathering in Lincoln!
--
Mike Nolan