Big Ten Reportedly Nearing Major Conference Change

The Big Ten is nearing a decision to eliminate the conference's divisions.

Right now, the B1G has the east and the west, and the former is stacked compared to the latter. Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State routinely battle it out for the east. Meanwhile, the west struggles to get an elite team more times than not.

With USC and UCLA joining in 2024, the Big Ten is gearing up for a monumental shift.

The Athletic reported Friday that "it’s a near certainty" the B1G will completely eliminate the conference's divisions after next season.

However, an official decision might not come until as early as February or as late as May.

The Big Ten needs to make a change.

The Big Ten's divisions are completely lopsided and have been pretty much from the start of the east and west. You simply can't have a loaded east and a weak west year after year.

It gets boring and degrades the quality of the conference's title game. Did anyone really think Purdue had a chance this year against Michigan?

Of course not. Nobody believed that, and the Wolverines trounced the Boilermakers.

Eliminating divisions allows the B1G to put the two best teams in the conference title game, which will help the conference get more playoff bids.

It's the right decision, and it has to happen. USC and UCLA coming is a huge addition, and eliminating the divisions is the next logical step.

2024 will mark a new dawn for the B1G, and fans should be ready for some serious changes. Things are definitely going to be different in a couple years.

Written by
David Hookstead is a reporter for OutKick covering a variety of topics with a focus on football and culture. He also hosts of the podcast American Joyride that is accessible on Outkick where he interviews American heroes and outlines their unique stories. Before joining OutKick, Hookstead worked for the Daily Caller for seven years covering similar topics. Hookstead is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin.