Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany unveiled the new conference's realignment in football terms with "X" and "O". The divisions are as followed
"O" - Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Northwestern.
"X" - Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, and Wisconsin.
As a Hawkeye fan I am both pleased and perplexed with the divisions. Less Ohio State is good, but now the Iowa Hawkeyes won't play one of their biggest rivals (maybe their biggest lately) Wisconsin. Iowa-Wisconsin games have always been a physical battle with the winner taking home the "Heartland Trophy". However, with losing the Wisconsin game till at least 2013, Iowa can look forward to ending every season with Nebraska. The Iowa-Nebraska fans have been asking to play each other for quite sometime now, and it will finally take place in 2011.
Thoughts on the division as a whole
Both will be competitive, but I feel the O division will be more balanced. On the plus side Iowa only faces 2 true spread teams in Michigan and Northwestern. It goes without saying that spread offenses usually give the Iowa defense fits because they spread out the defense and take short passes to slowly move the chains. Iowa preserved their storied rivalry with Minnesota which all fans wanted. That leaves Michigan State as our other division opponent. Lately the Michigan State games have been very competitive. 2007 was a double-overtime win, 08 was a late 4th quarter loss, and 09 was a last play of the game win.
Overall, I think the Iowa fans should be happy with the divisions. It won't be easy by any means, but I think we should have success in the years to come.
Tune in for more information later....
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