I have been pretty nonchalant about the divisional alignment that the Big Ten will rollout for 2012 now that Nebraska is in the conference. I would like to see geography-based divisions, mostly so Penn State would have fewer chances of playing early games in the Central Time Zone. So, here is what it should look like to me:<\/p>\n
DIVISION A<\/strong> DIVISION B<\/strong> Off the top of my head, that breaks them down by time zone which would be too easy I guess. I am not going to get worked up about it though if they do something else. I’d also make Penn State and Nebraska protected interdivisional rivals. Oh and my trophy idea for that game: a two-sided Interstate 80 shield. One side with have Pennsylvania, the other will have Nebraska. I-80 is about 12 miles way from Happy Valley and goes right through Lincoln.<\/p>\n Of late though, there has been a great deal of anxiety in the Michigan and Ohio State fanbases about their rivalry. They have played each other at the end of the season since before the world turned from black and white to color. I have even dealt with it in my professional life. I remember in 2007 spending 8 days working on a special Web section at work for that game. About half an hour before I wrapped up, I got the call that “Bo Schembelcher just collapsed” and my wind-down was postponed. I got to post the news that Schembelcher had died.<\/p>\n
\nPENN STATE
\nIndiana
\nMichigan
\nMichigan State
\nOhio State
\nPurdue<\/p>\n
\nIllinois
\nIowa
\nMinnesota
\nNebraska
\nNorthwestern
\nWisconsin<\/p>\n