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I was wondering what would have happened if the Big Ten had responded immediately to the SEC in the early 90's. Suppose that in addition to Penn State, the Big Ten added Nebraska and started holding a CCG in 1993. Oh... and, of course, like the SEC, they aligned by geography.
Contrary to popular belief, 1997 and 1994 were the only years that OSU, PSU and Michigan were all in contention for the league championship in the same year. And it wouldn't have even mattered because Nebraska was undefeated both of those years and would have faced the best among the three in the Big Ten CCG. And in both of these years the CCG would have been a match-up of 1 vs. 2 (SEC-style) so there wouldn't even have been a debate.
1993
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU determines the West; Nebraska vs. Wisconsin would have determined the Central. A OSU vs. WI as CCG would have been a rematch of a tie. Cha-ching!
1994
#2 Penn State vs. #1 Nebraska
Both of these teams ended the season undefeated.
1995
Ohio State vs. Northwestern or Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Nebraska would have detrmined the Central Division
1996
Ohio State vs. Northwestern or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU determines the East and Northwestern vs. Iowa determines the Central, but Nebraska probably would have beaten both of them.
1997
#2 Nebraska vs. #1 Michigan
Both of these teams ended the season undefeated.
1998
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Winner of OSU vs. Michigan determines the East
1999
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin or Nebraska
Winner of Michigan vs. MSU determines the East, and Wisconsin vs. Nebraska would have determined the Central
2000
Purdue vs. Nebraska
Michigan vs. Purdue determines the East Division; the Big Ten had no teams finish in the Top 10 of the AP Poll this year.
2001
Michigan vs. Nebraska or Illinois
Nebraska and Illinois both had 2 losses; head-to-head would have dertermined the winner of the Central. Michigan, finishing with only 8 wins, is the best in the East
2002
Ohio State vs. Iowa
OSU goes undefeated and wins the NC.
2003
Michigan vs. Iowa or Nebraska
MN vs. IA on 11/15 decides the Central; MI vs. OSU on 11/22 decides the East.
Iowa and Nebraska both have identical records; head-to-head would have determined the winner of the Central Division
2004
Michigan vs. Iowa
Michigan has fewer than 10 wins in a very weak East Division
2005
Penn State vs. Wisconsin
Penn State's 17-10 win over OSU is the tie-breaker for the East
2006
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
OSU/Michigan decides the East, Wisconsin and OSU meet for the first time of the year in the CCG
2007
Ohio State vs. Illinois
OSU vs. Michigan decides the East, Illinois finnishes the strongest in the Central with fewer than 10 wins.
2008
Penn State vs. Northwestern
OSU/ Penn State decides the East, Northwestern has fewer than 10 wins in a very weak Central Division, the tie-breaker is NW's win at Iowa in the Big 10 opener.
2009
Ohio State vs. Iowa or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU decides the East and Wisconsin vs. Iowa ends up deciding the Central.
Iowa and Nebraska both have identical conference records; head-to-head would likely have determined the winner of the Central Division.
Contrary to popular belief, 1997 and 1994 were the only years that OSU, PSU and Michigan were all in contention for the league championship in the same year. And it wouldn't have even mattered because Nebraska was undefeated both of those years and would have faced the best among the three in the Big Ten CCG. And in both of these years the CCG would have been a match-up of 1 vs. 2 (SEC-style) so there wouldn't even have been a debate.
1993
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU determines the West; Nebraska vs. Wisconsin would have determined the Central. A OSU vs. WI as CCG would have been a rematch of a tie. Cha-ching!
1994
#2 Penn State vs. #1 Nebraska
Both of these teams ended the season undefeated.
1995
Ohio State vs. Northwestern or Nebraska
Northwestern vs. Nebraska would have detrmined the Central Division
1996
Ohio State vs. Northwestern or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU determines the East and Northwestern vs. Iowa determines the Central, but Nebraska probably would have beaten both of them.
1997
#2 Nebraska vs. #1 Michigan
Both of these teams ended the season undefeated.
1998
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
Winner of OSU vs. Michigan determines the East
1999
Michigan State vs. Wisconsin or Nebraska
Winner of Michigan vs. MSU determines the East, and Wisconsin vs. Nebraska would have determined the Central
2000
Purdue vs. Nebraska
Michigan vs. Purdue determines the East Division; the Big Ten had no teams finish in the Top 10 of the AP Poll this year.
2001
Michigan vs. Nebraska or Illinois
Nebraska and Illinois both had 2 losses; head-to-head would have dertermined the winner of the Central. Michigan, finishing with only 8 wins, is the best in the East
2002
Ohio State vs. Iowa
OSU goes undefeated and wins the NC.
2003
Michigan vs. Iowa or Nebraska
MN vs. IA on 11/15 decides the Central; MI vs. OSU on 11/22 decides the East.
Iowa and Nebraska both have identical records; head-to-head would have determined the winner of the Central Division
2004
Michigan vs. Iowa
Michigan has fewer than 10 wins in a very weak East Division
2005
Penn State vs. Wisconsin
Penn State's 17-10 win over OSU is the tie-breaker for the East
2006
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin
OSU/Michigan decides the East, Wisconsin and OSU meet for the first time of the year in the CCG
2007
Ohio State vs. Illinois
OSU vs. Michigan decides the East, Illinois finnishes the strongest in the Central with fewer than 10 wins.
2008
Penn State vs. Northwestern
OSU/ Penn State decides the East, Northwestern has fewer than 10 wins in a very weak Central Division, the tie-breaker is NW's win at Iowa in the Big 10 opener.
2009
Ohio State vs. Iowa or Nebraska
OSU vs. PSU decides the East and Wisconsin vs. Iowa ends up deciding the Central.
Iowa and Nebraska both have identical conference records; head-to-head would likely have determined the winner of the Central Division.