Predicting how Big Ten football could look with the expansion to 20 teams
![The logo of the Big Ten Conference is seen on a yard marker during Iowa Hawkeyes football Kids Day at Kinnick open practice, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.210814 Ia Fb Kids Day 109 Jpg The logo of the Big Ten Conference is seen on a yard marker during Iowa Hawkeyes football Kids Day at Kinnick open practice, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa.210814 Ia Fb Kids Day 109 Jpg](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d4d7bdac0eb5164a98539caa69196b97915068ecc81f098a549717da8e15888a.jpg)
Potential Big Ten Tournament matchup
The way I laid out the future of the Big Ten would help keep rivalries alive, give structure to the conference, and it would make for must-watch television.
At the end of the season, the top team from each division would compete in a Final 4-esque style tournament to see who gets to the Big Ten Championship game, and ultimately, who wins the conference.
The divisions are based on geography, rivalries, and potential matchups in the Big Ten Tournament. I also wanted to put together divisions so programs didn’t have to waste time, money, and resources on travel expenses, as much as possible.
I think the potential matchups for the Big Ten Tournament are exciting for the viewer. There is a chance you could get Ohio State vs. Clemson and Michigan vs. USC in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament. The winner of those two games would go on to compete for the conference title.
This is just an idea, and nothing is set in stone. Clemson and Florida State aren’t even in the Big Ten yet. But the Big Ten will expand to, at least, 20 teams. We have to have some structure for the conference. We can’t just say here are the 20 teams, go at it. I think a four-division Big Ten that features an end-of-season four-team tournament to determine the conference champion is the way to go.
Next. Game-by-game prediction of the 2023 Illini season. dark