Viva la Spittoon: Indiana's Big Ten divisional alignment, protected game, and future schedules.
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 1, 2010 8:39 PM EDT
in Indiana Hoosiers Football
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Well, it's official. First, the division alignment reported by ESPN was accurate. My speculation about protected crossovers was not. Over half a century after the strangest and least treasured of the Big Ten trophy games began, Indiana and Michigan State now will play for the Old Brass Spittoon every year. IU currently plays Purdue and Illinois every year year, and that will continue, as both are in IU's division. IU will play other divisional foes Penn State, Ohio State, and Wisconsin every year as well, plus the crossover against MSU. In 2011 and 2012, IU will play rotating inter-division games against Northwestern and Iowa. Here is IU's 2011 Big Ten schedule:
Oct 1: Penn State
Oct. 8: Illinois
Oct. 15: @ Wisconsin
Oct. 22: @ Iowa
Oct 29: Northwestern
Nov. 5: @ Ohio State
Nov. 19: @ Michigan State
Nov 26: Purdue
A few thoughts:
- Those of us who have been complaining about the Penn State game can note that IU's first home game next year will be against Penn State.
- IU will play at Wisconsin and at Ohio State two years in a row. Northwestern will play in Bloomington for a second year in a row.
- For 2011, IU-Purdue and Michigan-Ohio State are the only traditional rivalry games that will be played on the final weekend.
- Nebraska, Minnesota, and Michigan are the teams that IU doesn't play in 2011 or 2012. It may be several more years before IU either plays its first conference game against Nebraska or makes its first visit to TCF Bank Stadium.
- Next year's home schedule will be fun: in addition to the four conference games, IU will host Virginia.
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Any news on how this effects the basketball schedule?
Will there be 2 games from within the division and one game against the other division?
These divisions apply only to football. Thank goodness. IU’s division would be a murderer’s row in basketball.
The Crimson Quarry, SB Nation's Indiana Hoosiers blog
by John M (The Crimson Quarry) on Sep 2, 2010 6:48 AM EDT up reply actions
True on the strenght of that basketball division
But it would not have Sparty, and I’d be willing to do that if it guaranteed a home and home with Purdue every year.
by hoosierdaddynow on Sep 2, 2010 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I like the look of that schedule...
We get most of our toughest games away from home, it’d be hard to picture us beating OSU at this point anyway.
In 2011 we’ll be breaking in a new QB, but should have lots of returning players on both defense and offense. I’m pumped to see Duwyce tonight and I think Doss and Belcher should also return to make things a bit easier on whichever QB wins the starting job in 2011. Penn State will likely be starting whoever is starting for them towards the end of this season, so that should be a pretty tough game for the Hoosiers.
2011 will be a tough year for us, but we should also expect to make a bowl game, just like this season. Our offense will return, improved, and we should develop depth on defense to help out our new QB…
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