With the 'divisions' announced for the Big Ten's new 12 team alignment, it is time to determine how this impacts Penn State. Division (1) is Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern and Division (2) Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
First, let me just get it off my chest, I love our position. Now, could one argue that our division is a bit harder than the other, sure. You could easily make the point that the 3 of the 4 most dominant teams in the conference, OSU, Wisky and Penn State are all in one division (the fourth being Iowa),Ok Michigan has been dominant but they are so bad now, I just can't give them any respect.
But to be the best, you have to beat the best. And who are the two teams we have the most trouble with historically, Michigan and Iowa, I have no interest in playing year in and year out. We hold our own against Ohio State and Wisconsin, and typically we have no real consistent issues with Illinois, Indiana and Purdue.
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Now, what I really, really love about our position is the fact that our cross-divisional match-up is the 'children of the corn'. We all know that deep down in our hearts, ok most of you right on the surface of your skin, have some angst against Nebraska. But to be honest, I am over all that 1994 stuff, I just like the match-up plain and simple.
It is exciting, fresh match-up and it will tons of media attention, it will be a blockbuster game every single year (probably the second biggest conference game behind Michigan and Ohio State). And playing Nebraska is much more exciting than playing the team we all thought we would get for our 'cross-divisional' match-up, Michigan State.
So, what are my concerns, really my only concern is scheduling. Based on what we have seen for 2011 and 2012 I have two concerns. First, in 2011 our last three games are our three hardest conference games. After a bye-week, we play Nebraska at home, then at Ohio State and at Wisconsin. That is an extremely tough three game stretch.
My second concern is I don't want to play both Ohio State and Wisconsin either both away in the same year or both at home in the same year. For a long time we always played both Michigan and Ohio State both either away or home. Lately, they have mixed that up, which is much preferred. And I hope they do the same with the Buckeyes and Badgers.
Now our other 'cross-divisional' teams in 2011 and 2012, other than our constant in Nebraska, are Northwestern and Iowa. Of the five remaining teams in that division other than Nebraska, that is a fair assignment. I mean I would love to play Minnesota and Northwestern every year. But if you put those two together, that means one year you likely have Michigan and Michigan State or Michigan and Iowa, now that would be tough.
At the end of day, as I said at the beginning I love our position. We have three tough games, but games that will get a lot of publicity and be great games (Ohio State, Wisky and Nebraska). The remaining three are pretty easy, Indiana, Illinois and Purdue. And then you add Nebraska to the mix, plus consider we get to play a Michigan, or a Iowa or a Nebraska again in a Championship game, that is a game I will absolutely attend. This is going to be a great time.
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