If Minnesota wins the Big Ten’s West Division, the Golden Gophers will have done it the hard way.This weekend, coach Jerry Kill’s team hosts Ohio State, which just took control of the East by hammering Michigan State on the road. Although the Golden Gophers are tied atop their division with Wisconsin and Nebraska, they’re at a bit of a disadvantage thanks to this weekend’s game. Minnesota has to play Ohio State, while the Badgers and Cornhuskers don’t have to face the Buckeyes at all during the regular season.”We’ve just got to do our job. I’ve said that all along,” Kill said. ”We’ve had a tough schedule, and it’s not getting any easier, but that’s the challenge that our football team has, and we’re looking forward to that challenge.”With the addition of Maryland and Rutgers this season, the Big Ten now has two seven-team divisions, and there’s no way for everyone in the league to play everyone else. Instead, each team plays only two opponents from the other division, meaning some of the league’s top teams won’t necessarily face each other.Right now, No. 11 Nebraska (8-1, 4-1), No. 22 Wisconsin (7-2, 4-1) and Minnesota (7-2, 4-1) are tied atop the West. Nebraska’s crossover games this year are against Michigan State and Rutgers, and the Cornhuskers already lost to the Spartans. Wisconsin beat Rutgers and Maryland handily. Minnesota beat Michigan and now here come the eighth-ranked Buckeyes.Advantage, Wisconsin.”With new teams coming in from Maryland and Rutgers and realignment and those type of things, those games, it’ll circle back around,” Kill said. ”It’s part of it, and we understand it from adding teams.”The schedule may hurt Ohio State as well. The Buckeyes made a major statement last weekend with their 49-37 victory at Michigan State – the first Big Ten loss for the Spartans since 2012. …
Continue Reading: Big Ten expansion leaves uneven schedules
