They keep the axe and at least for the first two years of the arrangement, they get Nebraska. They are pissed about losing Iowa though.

I agree. I don't know any way you don't get somebody upset. But, I see very little to complain about.

As Delaney said last night anyway, there are games missed each year with the current system and I don't remember any outcry.

So, a couple "rivalries" will only meet every other year or so. If anything that makes them more intense.

I would be in favor of "Rivalry Week" being the first game each year, though. That would be my only complaint.

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You know me like that.

For some reason when they go to the 9 game schedule, i am expecting a second rivalry game created for each school and I'm predicting it will be a 'border war' for Iowa v Illinois.

It's also pretty clear they set them up for Notre Dame to join with no changes. There was a quote how they have to consider future expansion too.

Notre Dame would join the division with Michigan and Michigan State and Purdue would be the "protected" rival. That would keep all three yearly games going. Rutgers would fit in nicely with the more Eastern leaning division.

I'm not saying that Notre Dame will join but it does fit in nicely.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'm obviously not unbiased in this, but out of Iowa, Illinois, and Northwestern... where is the "real" rivalry? I'd argue recently it's been Iowa-NU. But I think historically, it's probably Iowa-Illinois... especially if you throw basketball in the mix.

Agreed. If that's your original thought, kudos.

Now are these divisions only for football, or are they for basketball too?

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My guess is that Jim Delany had the thought before I did.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

Formally it will be football only, but they will likely move to a similar arrangement as the Big 12 where you play each team on your side of the division twice and play a crossover once equaling 18 conference games.

Cool

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Nice attitude

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Hawkeye Vince has taken the "Math by Elmhurst Steve" courses.

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Fire Phil Emery

Iowa education. 16 games duh.

The more I think about these divisions the more it pisses me off. We are going to be missing out on all the potential Purdue and IU title games.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Yeah... I was thinking the same thing about us and Minny in the same light

I realize they were trying to balance the power, but wouldn't it have made more sense to switch Wisconsin and NU?

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Elon, Tulsi, and Don

how do you figure?

I already said this. Swapping them would keep them with their more traditional rivals. To me, Wisconsin kinda got the shaft.

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Only reason Wisco got screwed was because of the distance they have to travel for games. But frankly, Wisco travels pretty darn good, so not really much to worry about. Balance wise, swapping NU for Wisconsin would have tilted it towards one conference essentially having cupcakes + Buckeyes. Balance was (and should be) the biggest factor in determining divisions. Swapping Wisconsin for NU would be a bad idea.