The Big Ten may undergo division realignment in 2014, according to Brett McMurphy of ESPN. The new divisions would be split up by geography, with “East” and “West” replacing “Legends” and “Leaders.” The 2013 season will be played with the current division format.
Big Ten to realign by geography in 2014, per report
Out with the “Legends” and “Leaders,” in with “East” and “West.”
Jamie Sabau
The proposed East division would consist of Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Rutgers. The West would feature Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Wisconsin. The Michigan/Ohio State rivalry gets a jolt, as both teams are now in the same division. Previously, the conference made an exception to assure that the rivals would play every season.
The only traditional rivalry threatened by the realignment is Purdue-Indiana. But like the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry before it, the Big Ten has promised to allow these teams to play every season.
After a proposed 10-game conference schedule, the league settled on a nine-game schedule beginning in 2016 to give each team seven home games. The realignment runs concurrently with Maryland and Rutgers joining the conference as the 13th and 14th teams.
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