CHICAGO
Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was clear as can be Monday morning: The conference’s divisional format will not change any time soon. And Penn State coach James Franklin isn’t exactly happy to hear that.
Approaching the Big Ten’s fifth season in the East-West model, there remains a stark competitive imbalance between the two divisions. The East has won all four league championships and features a quartet of playoff-contending programs in Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State. The West has Wisconsin, an intriguing Nebraska under Scott Frost, stable Iowa and that’s about it.
Big Ten West teams have reached three New Year’s Six bowls since the divisions were created.