Ope3
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The info is pretty basic, they had Divisions for a dozen years. Now they do not. There was no reprieve with the addition of the USC-UCLA and then again with Washington-Oregon. Still gone.Not sure where you're getting your info from. The main thing that people had an issue with under the previous East/West split was the unbalanced schedules and one division being way stronger than the other. This would effectively remove that issue and we'll as guarantee that every team saw every other team in the conference at least every third year.
For them to go back the "Non-Division format" will have to fail in some measure so TV/Streamers would be agreeable (and PAY) for them to go back. Divisions also take away the potential of a 2nd Ohio St vs Michigan game. That's what TV/Streamers want.
Lets look at a specific example of USC, if they were in a West Division or Pod with Washington/Oregon in which they would play them every year. Even though they were in the Pac 8-10-12 together, they are not really "rivals" nor attract big view numbers nationally. Why would TV/Streamers want that if it means fewer games for USC against Michigan or Ohio St, even if it's just 1 fewer over a 5-6 year time span?
Has zero effect on the CFP.
The zero effect on CFP statement is not true. The Big 10 Champion will now get an Auto-Bid to the CFP and likely a Bye. We can certainly debate the amount of impact it has, but will not be "ZERO".
Having said all that, if the Conference does go beyond 20 teams up to 24-28+, then I suppose it does put divisions back in play. I do not think that would happen until the current Media Rights deal expires, but things change.
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