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Since 2000, the Big Ten is 11-10 against the SEC in bowl games.
SEC bowl games are not great matches... tie-ins will often pit the #5 SEC team against the #3 Big Ten team in the outback bowl, or the #3 SEC team against the #2 big ten team in the citrus bowl.
it is more exagerrated with the big east ... where SEC #10 plays Big east #4, or how SEC #6 team plays the ACC's #2 team in the peach bowl. Conference records between bowls are not always a good measure of conference strength.
as to the topic, i disagree with the OP. in your version, it looks to me like all the $$$$ is on the eastern side. the Big 12 made a similar (probably worse) mistake by putting Oklahoma, Texas, and Texas A&M all together.
Michigan & Ohio State had to be in separate divisions... They are the 2 winningest programs.
Actually, even though Nebraska is a newcomer to the conference next year, making it understandable to have them overlooked- they rank above Ohio State for all time winning records. They are the #4 winningest program of all time. (Michigan is #1, Ohio State is #5)
But Tennessee is a mid-pack SEC team now, just as Ohio State or Michigan could end up a mid-pack Big Ten team someday. Then the Big Ten split them up for what reason? Splitting them up to ensure that they meet in the Big Ten Championship seems a bit premature, and also smacks of elitism a bit. It's a way of saying that the Big Ten is Ohio State, Michigan, and 10 other also-rans. You don't see Texas and Oklahoma in different divisions in the Big 12.
And the Big 12 is NOT the SEC either... their conference would be better if OU and TX were in different divisions. Anyone can see that.
TN will not be down forever. They are still the 2nd winningest program in the SEC even with these down years. Alabama was down in the mid 90's to mid 2000's. They got back on top. So will TN.
The point is not only that they will meet in the championship. They make other programs step up. It also allows them to play each other once during the season and then still possibly meet in the championship game. If they are in the same division that wouldn't be possible. Another great rivalry with winning programs in the SEC is GA and Auburn. They are also in separate divisions.
I do not care what the Big 10 does ultimately... I'm just stating my opinion. I have no dog in the Big 10 races so ultimately it does not matter to me.
I will say at least Big 10 schools require their athletes to be able to read....unlike the SEC and other conferences/schools south of the Mason-Dixon.
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