Power Imbalance: Big Ten Divisions Imperfect

Up until the new Big Ten divisions were finalized earlier this week, there was a good deal of uncertainty about the future of the Ohio State- Michigan rivalry. Would they play in the same division to keep their season-ending war of attrition alive, or in separate divisions to allow for the chance to meet in the new conference championship game? In the end, they got the best of both worlds, as Ohio State and Michigan will indeed be in separate divisions, but will continue to play each other at the end of the season, with a rematch for the conference championship as a possibility.

This arrangement would seem to be a huge win for the Big Ten on the national stage because it allows the conference’s most distinct rivalry to remain relevant on a year-by-year basis, while allowing it the possible opportunity to fulfill its traditional role as the de facto conference championship game. It seems like a great arrangement, but Michigan fans should be much happier about the impending divisional grouping than supporters of OSU.

For those asking why, the answer is simple: the proverbial balance of power has tilted in the favor of one division

To put it bluntly, Michigan has been one of the weaker Big Ten teams over the past couple of years, and Wolverine coach Rich Rodriguez doesn’t inspire this writer’s confidence that he’ll turn things around this year. Nebraska and Iowa are generally good teams, and Northwestern was decent last year, but Minnesota, Michigan State and Michigan have been painfully average in the recent past.

On the other hand, Ohio State has been the best team in the Big Ten, hands down, for four of the past 5 years --- yet they somehow end up sharing a division with Wisconsin and Penn State, teams who’ve been just about as strong as them in recent years. As a matter of fact, besides Wisconsin’s 7-6 year in 2008, none of the three have won fewer than nine games in a season since 2004. By comparison, Iowa has won fewer than nine games three times over that span and they’re the best team in their division.

Therein lies the biggest issue with the divisional alignments in the near future: One division (Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan State, Minnesota and Northwestern) seems to be a bountiful land of parity where all teams seem to be on reasonably equal footing. The other (Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Illinois, Purdue and Indiana) features three powerhouses who’ve combined to win 79% of their games the past 5 seasons, and three teams that will have major issues competing with the big boys year in and year out.

Teams like Indiana and Purdue, who would stand a fighting chance in the other division, seem to be resigned to no better than a second or third place finish (barring a minor miracle) in the newly established land of giants, while a traditional weakling like Northwestern has a legitimate shot at winning their division next year.

 It’s sad to say, but the looming divisional alignment is a poor one. It undermines the very competitive balance that it claims to create and doesn’t allow great matchups like Ohio State vs. Penn State or Wisconsin to take place on the biggest stage.

Now, if you all will excuse me I’m going to mourn the fact that IU now plays Ohio State every year.

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