Big Ten commissioner: Michigan and Ohio State rivalry will still be played in final week of regular season
Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel and Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez will continue to meet in late November in the new Big Ten Conference alignment.
Associated Press
The tradition of the Michigan and Ohio State rivalry is safe.
Although the two schools have been placed in separate Big Ten Conference divisions, conference commissioner Jim Delany said the rivalry will be a "protected" game, meaning the two schools will face each other every season.
Perhaps as importantly, the commissioner said, the game will be played on the final weekend of the regular season, continuing a tradition that began in 1935.
"It's candid to say we looked at different places (on the schedule) for the game," Delany said on the Big Ten Network. "We never looked at an October date, it was a mid-November date or the end of the season. We went with the end of the season. It was a way to retain a wonderful tradition."
Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon was thrilled with the result.
"Michigan is really happy," he said on the Big Ten Network. "... That's exceedingly important, and we don't mind playing Ohio State twice in one year, if that's what the end result would be."
Delany outlined the Big Ten's new divisions as the following:
In one division, temporarily called the 'X' until a permanent name is picked, are Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin.
In the other, temporarily called the 'O,' are Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.
Each school will play every team in its division annually, play one protected cross-over game against a traditional rival from the other division and hen two rotating games against other teams from the opposite division.
The conference will examine the possibility of adding a ninth conference game each year, starting in 2015.
Part of the reason for the delay is that schools have scheduled non-conference games years ahead that could be affected by a nine-game conference schedule. Part of the reason is the Big Ten may not be done expanding just yet.
Delany said the conference will stick to its original plan of examining expansion possibilities over an 18-month period. In December, Delany said the conference would decided whether the elapsed time since Nebraska was added in June is a "pause or a period."
Delany also said that, while the inaugural Big Ten championship game in 2011 will be played indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, he's open to the possibility of playing the game outdoors.
"I will tell you this," Delany said. "I think we play football outdoors for much of November, so we are not closing the door on outdoor football. I think we'd be prepared to do that if it's the right set of circumstances."
Download a pdf of the 2011-2012 schedule: 2011-2012 Schedules.pdf
Comments
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:43 p.m.
The divisions are only for football.
earl cornett
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 10:07 p.m.
In basketball MSU gets a huge break with the divisional alignment. They are in the wimpy division with UM, Northwestern, Iowa, Nebraska, and Minnesota and will play each of them twice. That means they will only play Purdue, OSU, Illinois, Wisc, IU, and Pa State once while those schools beat up on each other twice.
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 9:07 p.m.
The fact is every game is not equally important, never has been never will be, that is just something your coach told you.
Mick52
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 8:19 p.m.
Since I became a Michigan fan to me the biggest problem with the Big Ten schedule that one team you didn't have to play. Thus often a team had a chance to win a championship simply because a good team was off your schedule. Looks like its gotten worse. I don't understand why they feel the need to do this. Just because other conferences do it is not a good reason. If its money, then I'm going to have to start believing those who say its all a business. Personally I don't give a hoot about a championship game though I am delighted at the possibility of playing osu two weeks in a row. No game is more important that any other. Every game is equally important, if you think otherwise, you will fail
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 7:56 p.m.
How about they name the division after the team that won that division the previous year.
Steve the Wookiee
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.
Iowa and Wisconsin should be switched. That way the divisions could be called "M's, N's & W" and "I's, O & P's". Seems perfectly logical.
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 7:44 p.m.
Michigan, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan State, Northwestern, and Minnesota is by far the better division if you enjoy traveling to away games.
A2D2
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 7:17 p.m.
In response to x219, Ga/Fla is played in Jacksonville, FL sorta kinda halfway between the two schools. Where would you suggest Michigan and Ohio State play? Detroit? Cleveland? Ooh, ooh,I know, Toledo in the Glass Bowl (capacity 20,000).. Second, I think the real winner here is michigan state. Not only do they only play Ohio State only about half the time, their protected game is Indiana? Where's the rivalry there?. Typical. While Michigan gets OSU, michigan state get Powderpuff U.
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 6:22 p.m.
Protected Crossover Games Ohio State / Michigan Penn State / Nebraska Wisconsin / Minnesota Illinois / Northwestern Indiana / Michigan State Purdue / Iowa
x219
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 6:14 p.m.
I think both schools missed out on a real opportunity to emulate the UF UGa format.
jameslucas
Wed, Sep 1, 2010 : 6:13 p.m.
Michigans five most important games starting in 2012: 1. Nebraska 2. Iowa 3. Michigan State 4. Northwestern 5. Minnesota I think these five teams are winners in the division of the Big Ten, because unlike Michigan they dont have a locked in Ohio State Game at the end of the regular season. In the hearts of the older fans Michigan Ohio State will remain supreme. Younger fans will know that on the road to the Big Ten Championship Game, Michigan will most likely have to beat Nebraska, Ohio State will have little importance in pursuit of that goal. Fielding H. Yost once worked for Nebraska, so there is some tradition here, nonetheless the importance of the game will make it a great rivalry in the minds of all Michigan fans.