Can we finally stop talking about the divisions? OK, not yet.
By the way, it's game day!!!
By the way, it's game day!!!
- If you missed it, here's my reaction to the new Big Ten divisions.
- It's hard to find a loser in the Big Ten's new alignment, Teddy Greenstein writes in the Chicago Tribune. The divisions weren't perfect, but about as good as could be expected, Dave Curtis writes in The Sporting News. From a mathematical standpoint, the Big Ten got it right, Lindsey Willhite writes in the Daily Herald. The Game stays where it always has been, but big changes are coming to the Big Ten, SI.com's Stewart Mandel writes. Penn State makes out pretty well in the new setup, David Jones writes in The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News.
- Big Ten fans got their way, but the league missed an opportunity by leaving The Game at the end of the regular season, CBSSports.com's Dennis Dodd writes.
- Wisconsin AD Barry Alvarez is disappointed to lose the annual Iowa rivalry, Mike Lucas writes in The Capital Times. The Badgers are the biggest losers in Big Ten realignment, Tom Oates writes in the Wisconsin State Journal. Wisconsin linebacker Mike Taylor (knee) hopes to return no later than Week 2, if not sooner, Jeff Potrykus writes in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- The Omaha World-Herald has a good breakdown of the divisions and what they mean for Nebraska and Iowa. Nebraska's first Big Ten go-round will be no picnic, Tom Shatel writes in the World-Herald.
- By the way, Penn State just named a true freshman (!!!) as its starting quarterback. Read all about Robert Bolden here and here and here and here.
- Ohio State fans deserve credit for keeping The Game in its rightful place, Bob Hunter writes in The Columbus Dispatch. A look at Jim Tressel's winning legacy in Columbus during the past 10 years from The Cleveland Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises.
- Michigan's Michael Shaw is academically cleared for the season, but no starter has been named at his position, Angelique Chengelis writes in The Detroit News. A look at Brock Mealer's amazing story from annarbor.com's Pete Bigelow.
- The Bucket game isn't going anywhere for Indiana and Purdue, Terry Hutchens writes in The Indianapolis Star. It's game on for the Hoosiers tonight against Towson, Dustin Dopirak writes in The (Bloomington) Herald-Times (subscription required).
- Iowa came out in decent shape after Big Ten realignment, Sean Keeler writes in the Des Moines Register. After walking away from a terrifying motorcycle crash, Iowa center Josh Koeppel will appear on national TV, Lee Hermiston writes in the Iowa City Press-Citizen.
- Purdue's new-look secondary earns high marks from the offense, Mike Carmin writes in The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier.
- Michigan State's fate in Big Ten realignment looks manageable, Joe Rexrode writes in the Lansing State Journal. Spartans fans should be happy with the league's plan, Michael Rosenberg writes in the Detroit Free Press.
- Tim Brewster's fate at Minnesota ultimately will be tied to former offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, Jim Souhan writes in the Star Tribune. Like it or not, quarterback Adam Weber is still running the show for the Gophers, Marcus Fuller writes in the (St. Paul) Pioneer Press.
- The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen looks at what the Big Ten divisions mean for Illinois. The Illini's new-look secondary will be tested against Missouri, Shannon Ryan writes in the Chicago Tribune.
- The Northwestern-Illinois rivalry survives Big Ten realignment, ESPNChicago.com's Scott Powers writes.
Adam Rittenberg | email
College Football- ESPN.com Big Ten blogger
- Joined ESPN.com in 2008
- Wrote for Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Adam Rittenberg
Rittenberg joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four years at the Arlington Heights (Ill.) Daily Herald, where he covered sports at Notre Dame, Northwestern, DePaul and several other colleges. He lives in Chicago.
Brian Bennett
Bennett joined ESPN.com in August 2008 after nine years at The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., where he covered college sports and the University of Louisville beat. He lives in Louisville.
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