big ten divisions

Right now the Big Ten has 12 members and the Big 12 has ten. Perfect.

So let's set up some football divisions.

Geography is sort of arbitrary, eh?

Lets think this through.

Michigan-Ohio State-Michigan State should all be in one division.
Same for Illinois-Northwestern...
and Indiana-Purdue...
but I don't think it's a good idea to put those four bad school together.

So let's put Indiana-Purdue with Michigan-Ohio State-Michigan State.

They need one more team out of Nebraska-Iowa, Illinois-N'western-Wisconsin-Minnesota-Penn State.

Penn State moves the balance of power to far to the east. Wisconsin makes sense with Michigan since they touch, but is that also too powerful in the east? Let's move Minnesota over. They have the stupid brown jug with Michigan.

Here's how it shakes out with 3-year win totals

Division A
Ohio State 32
Michigan State 22
Michigan 17
Purdue 17
Minnesota 14
Indiana 14

Division B
Penn State 31
Wisconsin 26
Iowa 26
Nebraska 24
Northwestern 23
Illinois 17

Division A = 116
Division B = 147

Wow. Who saw that coming?

So if we go geographic and swap Penn State with Minnesota we'd get:

East 133
Ohio State 32
Penn State 31
Michigan State 22
Michigan 17
Purdue 17
Indiana 14

West 130
Wisconsin 26
Iowa 26
Nebraska 24
Northwestern 23
Illinois 17
Minnesota 14

It's more balanced based on the last 3 years, but what happens when Michigan gets their head out of their ass and Iowa and Northwestern fall from grace? I think I like the first setup better.