UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - After months of debate and endless speculation, the Big Ten announced its new football division alignment slated to begin in 2011, Nebraska's first season in the conference, on Wednesday evening.

Let's get right into the new divisions that begin next fall.  Penn State will be joined by Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin in its division.  The other division will feature Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Northwestern.  The Nittany Lions will play each of the five teams in their division every season, in addition to three teams in the other division, which includes one annual crossover game.  Nebraska will be Penn State's "protected" cross-division rivalry game.

The long-winded debate since Nebraska joined the Big Ten hinged on the placement of Ohio State and Michigan in the divisions.  The Buckeyes and Wolverines will compete in separate divisions beginning next fall.  However, the Wolverines and Buckeyes will be "protected" cross-division rivals, and will still play during the final week of the regular season.

In addition to Penn State-Nebraska and Ohio State-Michigan, the remaining "protected" cross division rivals look like this: Michigan State-Indiana, Wisconsin-Minnesota, Illinois-Northwestern and Iowa-Purdue.  Here is a look at the new Big Ten divisions for the 2011 football season:

Big Ten Football Divisions
(Protected cross division opponents on same line)
Division A                        Division B
Penn State                        Nebraska
Illinois                               Northwestern
Indiana                              Michigan State
Ohio State                         Michigan
Purdue                              Iowa
Wisconsin                         Minnesota


With the divisions now out, the landscape of scheduling and rivalry games will change next fall.  Take a glance at the 2011 schedule listed below:

2011
Sept. 3                        INDIANA STATE
Sept. 10                      ALABAMA
Sept. 17                      at Temple
Sept. 24                      EASTERN MICHIGAN
Oct. 1                          at Indiana
Oct. 8                          IOWA
Oct. 15                        PURDUE
Oct. 22                        at Northwestern
Oct. 29                        ILLINOIS
Nov. 12                        NEBRASKA
Nov. 19                        at Ohio State
Nov. 26                        at Wisconsin
Dec. 3                         Big Ten Championship Game (Lucas Oil Stadium; Indianapolis)


It is going to be quite a three-week span to end the 2011 season with Nebraska in Beaver Stadium on Nov. 12, followed by trips to Ohio State and Wisconsin.  Penn State will arguably play its three most difficult games in successive weeks to end the season, not to mention the possibility of playing for the Big Ten title on Dec. 3 to make it four straight weeks.  The Nebraska, Ohio State and Wisconsin clashes will all be high stakes battles.

Things will change in 2012, but Wisconsin will again be the final game of the regular season.  From the looks of things, a new Penn State-Wisconsin rivalry is in the works.  Here is the 2012 schedule:

2012
Sept. 1                        OHIO
Sept. 8                         at Virginia
Sept. 15                      NAVY
Sept. 22                      TEMPLE
Sept. 29                       at Illinois
Oct. 6                         NORTHWESTERN
Oct. 20                        at Iowa
Oct. 27                       OHIO STATE
Nov. 3                          at Purdue
Nov. 10                        at Nebraska
Nov. 17                       INDIANA
Nov. 24                       WISCONSIN
TBD                             Big Ten Championship Game


As for the divisions themselves, it is good to see Penn State and Ohio State in the same division.  It is a bit of a surprise that Michigan and Ohio State are aligned in separate divisions, but having Ohio State in the same division is great for the Nittany Lions.  Penn State-Ohio State has become a great rivalry game in the past decade.  Now, the game will play a big role in the race for a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game.

We have talked throughout the expansion process that the addition of Nebraska is a tremendously positive thing for Penn State, and the conference as a whole.  Looking at future schedules with Ohio State, Wisconsin and Nebraska as fixtures, it is going to add a lot to the schedule.

Take the 2011 season as an example.  Penn State will play Alabama, Iowa and Nebraska at home.  The Lions will also play Ohio State and Wisconsin on the road.  Add in the potential for a game at Lucas Oil Stadium to decide the Big Ten title.  What more can you ask for if you are a Penn State football fan?  Five games against national powers, with three of them being at home.

Bring on the new-look Big Ten in 2011.