Illinois Fighting Illini 

There have been so many plans suggested, but here is the one that I think makes the most sense.  Call it "Ketch's Divisions Plus One Rival Plan."

Div 1                   Div 2  

(each team's rival is listed opposite it)

Michigan              Ohio State
Nebraska             Penn State
Iowa                     Wisconsin
Indiana                 Purdue
Michigan State     Minnesota
Illinois                  Northwestern

Teams play each team in their division (five games) plus one designated rival annually (one game), while rotating games against the remaining teams (two games). That’s a total of eight league contests per year (you could also play nine and add one more interdivisional game). 

Division winners play in the title game.

One advantage of this plan is the competitive balance of the divisions: Each have two of the traditional superpowers (Ohio State, Nebraska, Michigan, and Penn State) and one of the very competitive teams (Iowa and Wisconsin).  The other outstanding teams are fairly evenly distributed.

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the_Ketch's  Big 10 Divisions plus 1 rival plan...

2 divisions listed opposite permanent interdivisional rival...

Div 1                     Div 2

Michigan               Ohio State
Nebraska              Penn State
Iowa                      Wisconsin
Indiana                  Purdue
Michigan State      Minnesota
Illinois                    Northwestern

Teams play division games (5) plus one game against its designated rival (1) and two games (2) against  the other division teams per year. That's a total of (8) league contests. Division winners play in league title (The War for the Roses) game.

· The haves play each other more often, creating maximum interest and tv Revenue.  Thus every year the league offers these gems:
                    o Michigan vs. Nebraska, Ohio State and Iowa
                    o Ohio State vs. Michigan, Penn St and Wisconsin
                    o Penn State vs. Ohio State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin
                    o Nebraska vs. Michigan, Iowa and Penn State
· All top rivalries are kept except Iowa/Minnesota (sorry but tv is not clamoring for this one)
· No travel advantage
· Balance within each division having 2 bigs from (Michigan, Ohio State, Penn St. Nebraska),  and 1 near big of Iowa or  Wisconsin-- also avoids the geographical situation in the Big XII by spreading divisions across the geographical footprint so that it doesn't get to be too us vs. them among divisions.