BY ERIC OLSONThe Associated Press Published: August 11, 2016 The big change in the Big Ten is the move to the nine-game conference schedule. What doesn’t figure to change is the dominance of the East Division. Ohio State, Michigan and defending champion Michigan State all are positioned to make runs at being national top-10 teams, if not College Football Playoff contenders. Iowa’s amazing 12-0 regular season in 2015 notwithstanding, this looks like another year when the West will play in the East’s considerable shadow. The Big Ten attempted to create balance when it split into divisions with Nebraska’s entry in 2011. The Legends and Leaders monikers went by the wayside after three years, replaced by the geographical East-West alignment. Last season, Michigan State went to the playoff and was joined by fellow East members Ohio State and Michigan among the top 12 teams in the final Top 25. Iowa, at No. 9, was the only West team among the top dozen. The year before, Ohio State won the national championship and Michigan State was No. 6 in the final AP poll, with Wisconsin the highest West team at No. 13. The East won the last two Big Ten championship games,…
Continue Reading: East still dominates Big Ten
