According to various reports locally and nationally, the Big Ten will announce the alignment of its two six-team divisions Wednesday night.
Michigan and Ohio State will reportedly be placed in separate divisions, but ESPN’s Andy Katz reports that the conference will institute a “consistent crossover game” for football between particular teams in each division. This is expected to preserve the season-ending matchup between the Wolverines and Buckeyes.
The Big Ten’s two six-team divisions will line up as follows:
- Michigan, Michigan State, Iowa, Northwestern, Minnesota and Nebraska.
- Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Purdue, Indiana and Illinois.
In basketball, teams will play a 16-game conference schedule, matching up twice a season against opponents within the division and once versus teams in the other division.
The Big Ten has yet to confirm Katz's story, however, amid conflicting reports bouncing around the Internet. Stay tuned, true believers.