Option 2
Pod A
USC
Minnesota
Indiana
Nebraska
Pod B
UCLA
PSU
Maryland
Michigan State
Pod C
OSU
Wisky
Purdue
Northwestern
Pod D
Michigan
Rutgers
Illini
Iowa
You play your 3 teams in Pod- you play 1 rotating Pod (7) one protected rival (8) 4 out of conference (12)
I think they are getting rid of the divisions once USC and UCLA join in.
But, since you went to the effort, I will also
Pod A
PSU, Rutgers, Maryland, Michigan State
Pod B
Ohio State, Michigan, Purdue, Indiana
Pod C
Illinois, Northwestern, Minnesota, Wisconsin
Pod D
Nebraska, Iowa, USC, UCLA
The pods are based on the "rivalry" games at the season's end. Optimally for the Big Ten, it would be best to have 10 conf games and 2 non conf games. Each team can have 5 home/5 away conf games. But the key is you play nine scheduled conference games, and then the last one is based on your record, like the conference did in 2020 Covid Year.
So, for PSU, they could play Maryland and MSU at home and Rutgers away in their Pod. So, that is three. They play 2 teams from each other pod, home and away, for another six games. Example - Pod B games: Home vs. OSU, at Purdue. Poc C games: Home aginast Northwester, at Minnesota. Pod D games: Home against USC, at Nebraska. After 11 games, they will have had 5 home and 4 conference games away. So, they will play a team simliar to their record away from another POD for their 12th game.
What this scenario does is allow the best teams of each POD to play each other in the regular season in the 12th game. The winners of those two games play in the CCG in Indy (or wherever). That is your Big Ten Champ. It maintains the 12 NCAA games and you get the conference game.
The following year, the schedule would be slightly reversed within the POD, so that PSU would have two away games and one home game, meaning that they would get the 12th game at home against an opponent with a similar record.
Logistics would be the biggest issue for the 12th game. But it's really hotel rooms. For PSU home games, the Ramada is always the place the opposing team stays, so I guess every other year, the hotel can reserve rooms forn an incoming team for the 12th game. I don't know how the contracts work out, but I am sure that can be arranged. Chartering busess to carry the team to/from the airport/hotel/stadium is not an issue. Chartering a jet to get to/from State College is also not really an issue. It's nice to have these things worked out well in advance, but it can also be a week or so in advance.
This is just my rambling. I do believe they will get rid of the divisions once USC and UCLA join.
