Delany: 2 Divisions, 9 Game Big Ten Schedule, Title Game Likely

We all know that a Big Ten Championship game is going to happen. I mean, that's the main reason for all this expansion non-sense in the first place, right? But according to Jim Delany at the Big Ten Media Days in Chicago today, he said that a title game is likely going to happen in 2011.

Also, according to the Big Ten commissioner, within the next 30 days, the two Big Ten divisions and the venue for said title game will be announced.

In order to maintain certain rivalries, a proposed 9 game Big Ten schedule is in the works as well, although may not go into effect for 3-4 years due to existing scheduling contracts that most teams have.

Via CNN/SI:

Commissioner Jim Delany expects the Big Ten to hold a championship game next season, when Nebraska joins and brings the league to 12 teams.


He also says teams will likely play nine conference games instead of eight in the future to help preserve rivalries.

Via ESPN's Adam Rittenberg:

"I think there's a real consensus among our athletic directors to do that," Delany said Monday at the league's football media days. "How quickly we can do that? We can't do that in the next year or two. I'm hopeful we can make some progress for years three, four. Hopefully, it's not three or four, but it could be depending on the contractual commitments."

"I don't know that we'll be able to preserve every trophy game or every rivalry game, but I can tell you that we're going to go through great lengths to make sure the traditions and the rivalries are respected," Delany said. "I've seen other expansions where you expand your conference, you don't increase the number of games and play each other less."