With the 2022 Big Ten Conference Championship Game (CCG) in the rearview mirror, I think it’s time we discuss divisional imbalance once again.
When Nebraska joined the Big Ten in 2012, the Big Ten adopted divisions for the first time. They were (hilariously) named Legends and Leaders, and were broken up as such:
Legends and Leaders
| Legends | Leaders |
|---|---|
| Iowa | Illinois |
| Michigan | Indiana |
| Michigan State | Ohio State |
| Minnesota | Penn State |
| Nebraska | Purdue |
| Northwestern | Wisconsin |
The Big Ten shunned a geographic split, and instead opted to balance geography with power.