Division 1 College Conference Realignment

[Epiphanic]

I'm about as casual a college football fan as they come, and I don't find anything really terrible about the alignment. After reading about it and some of the reactions, I don't think splitting Ohio State and Michigan was a great idea. I know it's a protected game, but the continued existence of that game was never really in doubt. Coupled with the fact that they won't move that game from it's traditional spot in the schedule, I think they should've been paired in the same division. The reason is under the current set up if both teams have their respective divisions wrapped up, how does that affect the "rivalry game" when next week's matchup for the conference title is the one that matters? Of course, you can simply say that the rivalry is so strong that both schools will pull out the stops to beat the other anyway, and that's reasonable. But imagine if Ohio State and Michigan were in the same division and now the game potentially decides who goes to the Big Ten championship game? I'd say that's also a very tantalizing subject. I dunno, perhaps the idea of having the conference's two marquee programs potentially meeting in the championship game was enough to showcase the conference.

Under the idea that Michigan and Ohio State should be in the same division, I took a crack at a different set up as a mental exercise (yes, reel-line-mint) to see if it could be improved. Using Wikipedia to document all the rivalry games in the conference and attempting to preserve as many of those rivalries as possible (either keeping rivals in division or using the protected game round it off), I came up with pretty much an East/West split with the exception of Illinois and Northwestern going in the East and Indiana and Purdue going in the West. Here's the layout with their protected rivalry across from each other:

Ohio State - Wisconsin

Michigan - Minnesota

Penn State - Nebraska

Michigan State - Indiana

Northwestern - Iowa

Illinois - Purdue

I think the only rivalry that is lost is the Governor's Victory Bell between Penn State and Minnesota, but that one is just as lost under the current set up. Of course I didn't take into account "competitive balance".

Anyway, this was just a mental exercise that I thought I'd share.

[Sport]

None of your examples have a 75 year history of playing on the last game of the season. Everyone gets a locked in cross division opponent and most people are smart enough to understand that, but people weren't worried that the OSU-Michigan wasn't going to played. That was never a concern because it's too crazy. The biggest concern (that they'll move the game because of being in opposite divisions) is about to happen. They're going to botch this thing and this rivalry will lose a lot of its intensity because it's being moved.

Oh, get the sand out. The rest of the world doesn't care about your stupid game. The conference doesn't revolve around the Michigan-Ohio State game.

There's a ton of evidence towards the contrary, but I don't care what the rest of the world thinks about the game. The conference doesn't revolve around this game, but it's pretty freaking close. The divisions were basically aligned to set up this match-up and the commissioner's office was inundated with complaints from people who feared that they would move the game proving that enough people do-in-fact care, but since you're so much cooler than me I don't expect any of this to change your outlook.

[Geoff]

Dear god, these leaked Big Ten divisions are horrible.

This was supposed to be simple: East and West, right down the Indiana/Illinois line. But no. Instead it's this giant cluster:censored: and the conference's biggest money maker, Michigan-Ohio State, is history. How do they expect them to remain massive rivals through the years when the teams aren't even in the same division? The Big-Tween really dropped the ball on this one.

I dunno. Tennessee and Alabama, Georgia and Auburn, Miami and Florida State, North Carolina and NC State, and Maryland and Virginia seem to hate each other as much as always and they aren't in the same division. So long as the game is played annually, the rivalry should remain.

/Why are protected rivalry games such a hard concept to grasp?

Good question. The Big Tewhatever wouldn't let the game die and now there is a possibility of having it and it's money making abilities twice.

[dfwabel]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

[Still MIGHTY]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

Yeah... Because that makes sense

[Seadragon76]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

[BigMac12]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

[rams80]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

I think they were punting around using the Philadelphia Union Stadium, at least in the interim.

[Geoff]

I expected Texas State and UT-San Antonio to contact the WAC but Denver and Seattle as well? They're still looking at Montana but Montana hasn't made a presentation to them and is still weighing their options.

[BigMac12]

I expected Texas State and UT-San Antonio to contact the WAC but Denver and Seattle as well? They're still looking at Montana but Montana hasn't made a presentation to them and is still weighing their options.

Desperate times for the WAC. If only Starfleet Academy exists...

[FiddySicks]

I expected Texas State and UT-San Antonio to contact the WAC but Denver and Seattle as well? They're still looking at Montana but Montana hasn't made a presentation to them and is still weighing their options.

Montana would be a GREAT addition to the WAC, as would a school like North Dakota State to give them a natural travel partner.

[Seadragon76]

I expected Texas State and UT-San Antonio to contact the WAC but Denver and Seattle as well? They're still looking at Montana but Montana hasn't made a presentation to them and is still weighing their options.

Montana would be a GREAT addition to the WAC, as would a school like North Dakota State to give them a natural travel partner.

True, but there's no way Montana goes without Montana State. If the Griz goes, then the Bobcats will follow.

As for Denver and Seattle: Both teams are looking for a home (In the case of the Redhawks, they're actually looking for a conference to call home) that is closer. Denver is the oddball western post of the Sun Belt right now. Moving to the WAC would be better for them and the WAC gets back into the Denver market that it would like to have.

For Seattle, they just need a home. The WCC (Which they are a former member) have already said no to the Redhawks (Seattle wants to be in the WCC because the members are similar to Seattle itself). Being in the WAC would give the Redhawks some decent regional rivals (Outside of OoC games with Washington, Washington State, Portland, etc) and a place to call home.

Also to note: Adding Denver and Seattle gives the WAC 10 teams overall with 8 for football with Texas State and UT-San Antonio. At this point, beggars can't be choosers.

[dfwabel]

The Big XII nine game, round robin schedule was released today. Those with neutral-site conference games will have a 4-4-1 breakdown. Texas lucked out in that they avoid any return trip in 2011 to a team it played on the road this year. The same can't be said for Oklahoma State (return to UT), Oklahoma (return to Oklahoma State) and Texas Tech (return to Oklahoma).

Here is what Texas will have:

2011 and Odd Years

Oct. 1 @ Iowa State

Oc. 8 vs Oklahoma

Oct. 15 OKLAHOMA STATE

Oct. 22 @ Baylor

Oct. 29 KANSAS

Nov. 5 TEXAS TECH

Nov. 12 @ Missouri

Nov. 19 KANSAS STATE

Nov. 26 @ Texas A&M

2012 and Even Years

Week #1 IOWA STATE

Week #2 vs Oklahoma

Week #3 @ Oklahoma State

Week #4 BAYLOR

Week #5 @ Kansas

Week #6 @ Texas Tech

Week #7 MISSOURI

Week #8 @ Kansas State

Week #9 TEXAS A&M

[TampaBayEverybodyLovesRays]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

I'm a student at Villanova. Word is we aren't going share the Linc with Temple and the most likely candidate would be PPL Park where the Union play.

[dfwabel]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

I'm a student at Villanova. Word is we aren't going share the Linc with Temple and the most likely candidate would be PPL Park where the Union play.

That is correct, if your school decides to fund the additional scholarships and upgrade the salaries for the coaching staff. Good luck in not seeing your student fees rise. PPL Park needs the revenue and they know that they can sell beer to make money on an additional 4-5 home dates. That place needs revenue.

[TampaBayEverybodyLovesRays]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

I'm a student at Villanova. Word is we aren't going share the Linc with Temple and the most likely candidate would be PPL Park where the Union play.

That is correct, if your school decides to fund the additional scholarships and upgrade the salaries for the coaching staff. Good luck in not seeing your student fees rise. PPL Park needs the revenue and they know that they can sell beer to make money on an additional 4-5 home dates. That place needs revenue.

Haha yeah, we pay a lot already. The general sentiment on campus is in favor of moving up to the Big East. Football has gotten a lot more popular here over the past few seasons... and coincidentally the team is very, very good lol.

[dfwabel]

Lastest rumor: The Big East Seriously Looking at TCU

I know the Big East is desperate for attention in Football, but I suggest you guys should just stick with trying to bring Villanova up, OK?

Where would a DI FBS 'nova play at? Are they going to share Lincoln Financial Field with Temple?

I'm a student at Villanova. Word is we aren't going share the Linc with Temple and the most likely candidate would be PPL Park where the Union play.

That is correct, if your school decides to fund the additional scholarships and upgrade the salaries for the coaching staff. Good luck in not seeing your student fees rise. PPL Park needs the revenue and they know that they can sell beer to make money on an additional 4-5 home dates. That place needs revenue.

Haha yeah, we pay a lot already. The general sentiment on campus is in favor of moving up to the Big East. Football has gotten a lot more popular here over the past few seasons... and coincidentally the team is very, very good lol.

Sorry, but you pay a lot to attend a private school. There will still need to be a way for the school to generate another $2M/year for football just to honor the 85 scholarships which the FBS has. 22 scholarships is a lot pf money for 'nova and the Montana schools. Plus, the coaching staff must be paid at the higher level as well. That is more money.

These teams will not immediately receive new conference dollars too, so every institution have to realize what their eventual financial gain will be. Villanova does not receive Big East football money, so they know on how to deal without.

[TBGKon]

I understand Nova would play at the Union's PPL Park, but isn't there some kind of average attendance minmum that FBS schools have to meet? Thus, would playing in a sub-20,000 seat stadium be an issue?

I guess they could attempt to play neutral site home games close to the home of their visitors, ala Florida Atlantic playing a "home game" at Ford Field in Detroit agaisnt Michigan State this season.

[TBGKon]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/College-Football-2792/ncaa-div-1-qualifications.htm

Aha, found some info on the subject of becoming D-1A/FBS football. The minimum average attendance for all home games looks to be 15,000:

"20.9.6.3 Football-Attendance Requirements. The institution annually shall average at least 15,000 in actual attendance for all home football games.

[illwauk]

http://en.allexperts.com/q/College-Football-2792/ncaa-div-1-qualifications.htm

Aha, found some info on the subject of becoming D-1A/FBS football. The minimum average attendance for all home games looks to be 15,000:

"20.9.6.3 Football-Attendance Requirements. The institution annually shall average at least 15,000 in actual attendance for all home football games.

Yea... I was gonna say, it's 15,000. Playing at Union Park (I don't know or care what the shill name is) is a smart move for Nova... especially if they can pack the place, which shouldn't be all that hard. Temple's probably kicking themselves as to why they didn't think of it sooner. In fact, why does Temple even still play football... has Bill Cosby threatened to stop funneling money to the school or something?