Published Friday, November 30, 2012 AT 4:43 PM / Updated at 5:40 PM
Huskers-Badgers every year?
Lee Barfknecht Omaha World-Herald

With the Big Ten expanding from 12 to 14 teams in 2014 — and maybe to 16 — discussion is rampant about realigning the Legends and Leaders Divisions.

Nebraska and Wisconsin are in separate divisions. But should the two Big Reds be joined so they play every year?

“I get it. It makes a lot of sense,” UW coach Bret Bielema said Friday. “But I’ll defer that one. I don’t want to get suspended before the game. I’ll leave that up to the league office.”

Nebraska coach Bo Pelini isn’t volunteering to have Wisconsin come over unless there are other changes, too.

“I kind of like them over on the other side,” he said, laughing. “I like the way they have broken up the divisions. It seems pretty fair now.

“Now, if they take one of those other teams (Maryland and Rutgers) and put one of them in each division, that would seem to make sense.

“But to put Wisconsin over on our side . . . it’s already a war week to week.”

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany has said the league’s athletic directors won’t discuss realignment for three to five months. That has boosted speculation that two more teams could join before reworking the divisions.

About Lee Barfknecht

Lee Barfknecht has won nine national writing awards from four separate organizations, and is a 12-time winner of the Nebraska sportswriter of the year award. He covers Big Ten football and basketball, Nebraska basketball and other college financial issues for The World-Herald. You can email Lee at lee.barfknecht@owh.com