(05-10-2014 11:58 PM)ohio1317 Wrote: You could well switch that. I put the Indiana/Illinois schools against each other unless there was another match-up, but you just as easily have Northwestern/Michigan State and Indiana/(Maryland/Rutgers).
Ah ... I think of NW and MSU having more history than NW and Indiana. After Illinois I'd think the strongest current rivalries for Northwestern are with Wisconsin & Iowa, but in the three locked rivals system those schools are full up.
If it was four, for the five western most schools, I'd say:
Northwestern: Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State
Wisconsin: Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern
Minnesota: Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan
Iowa: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern
Nebraska: Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State
Which would spill over (including established or historic rivalries & Penn St. versus the newbies):
Illinois: Northwestern, Ohio State, Indiana
Purdue: Indiana,
Indiana: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State
Michigan State: Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana
Michigan: Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota,
Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State, Illinois
Penn State: Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska
Rutgers: Maryland, Penn State
Maryland: Rutgers, Penn State
... after which point it starts to get a bit arbitrary.
Of course, arbitrary "rivalries" are themselves a recent tradition of the Big Ten, including the Land Grant trophy and the Our Most Hate Rival match up between Iowa and Purdue. Purdue's second strongest rivalry from Purdue's side (a number of the the opponent's fans will say how they scorn the series) is out of conference, leaving them a bit at loose ends. On geography you'd say Illinois and Michigan State, which rounds both of those out at four, and then with the Indiana schools at three, they could be slated against the newbies, North to North and South to South:
Illinois: Northwestern, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue
Purdue: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State, Rutgers
Indiana: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Maryland
Michigan State: Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue
Michigan: Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota,
Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State, Illinois
Penn State: Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska
Rutgers: Maryland, Penn State, Purdue,
Maryland: Rutgers, Penn State, Indiana
This leaves Michigan and Ohio State to do their duty to the conference bringing their brand names to the East Coast. Due to the number of Michigan grads in DC, I figure Michigan for Maryland and Ohio State for Rutgers:
Northwestern: Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan State
Wisconsin: Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Northwestern
Minnesota: Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Michigan
Iowa: Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northwestern
Nebraska: Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State
Illinois: Northwestern, Ohio State, Indiana, Purdue
Purdue: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan State, Rutgers
Indiana: Purdue, Illinois, Michigan State, Maryland
Michigan State: Michigan, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue
Michigan: Ohio State, Michigan State, Minnesota, Maryland
Ohio State: Michigan, Penn State, Illinois, Rutgers
Penn State: Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, Nebraska
Rutgers: Maryland, Penn State, Purdue, Ohio State
Maryland: Rutgers, Penn State, Indiana, Michigan