http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football/...alignment/

Quote:Although the Nittany Lions and Michigan State Spartans first matched up in 1914, the programs were not designated as permanent rivals until 1993, when PSU officially joined the Big 10. With the two schools serving as the nation’s oldest land-grant universities, a simple connection served as a jumping board for the conference to bridge the gap between PSU’s campus and the rest of the Midwestern schools. From there on, Michigan State and Penn State played each other every year in the final game of the regular season, slowly building a crucial and, what appeared to be, lasting series — which came to a head in 2008 and 2010, when PSU and MSU won their respective shares of the conference championship in the game.

While forced this game was never a rivalry and the trophy, like most modern created trophies (outside the crystal national chamionship football), was terrible. The games got better though in recent years with Michigan State rising and while I don't think it will ever be huge, it might feel like a bit of a rivalry with a few more years.

Edit: The situtation for Penn State certainly has improved. Their annual conference schedule now includes two east coast schools who will both regard Penn State as the team they want as their chief rival (which gives both potential to expand in ways a lot of other games couldn't), Ohio State and Michigan (who are somewhat rivals), and a Michigan State team where the potential for a decent rivalry has expanded. From an Ohio State perspective I'm not trilled with the divisions as it means playing a lot of teams we have traditionally played a lot less, but I think these were a huge move for Penn State.

(07-14-2014 10:16 AM)ohio1317 Wrote:  While forced this game was never a rivalry and the trophy, like most modern created trophies (outside the crystal national chamionship football), was terrible. The games got better though in recent years with Michigan State rising and while I don't think it will ever be huge, it might feel like a bit of a rivalry with a few more years.

Edit: The situtation for Penn State certainly has improved. Their annual conference schedule now includes two east coast schools who will both regard Penn State as the team they want as their chief rival (which gives both potential to expand in ways a lot of other games couldn't), Ohio State and Michigan (who are somewhat rivals), and a Michigan State team where the potential for a decent rivalry has expanded. From an Ohio State perspective I'm not trilled with the divisions as it means playing a lot of teams we have traditionally played a lot less, but I think these were a huge move for Penn State.

Yup this division is Penn State's dream division realistically. Two eastern schools it historically played often, Ohio State which for Penn State is a pretty big rival but not so reciprocated by the Buckeyes, Michigan and Michigan State are good to haves for them too.