As we all heard endlessly yesterday, the Big Ten announced their divisional alignment for football (starting next year) as well as the 2011 and 2012 schedules. I like the fact that the two years of schedules are out, but if you were excited about seeing new member Nebraska anytime soon, well, sorry. They'll be harder to find that Boilerdowd's hairline.Due to the new divisions and scheduling breaks, Purdue football will not see Nebraska football on either school's campus until 2013 at the earliest. Of course, the two could meet in the conference title game sooner. What?

The 2011 schedule:

Sept. 3 - KENT STATE
Sept. 10 - at Rice
Sept. 17 - SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE
Oct. 1 - NOTRE DAME
Oct. 8 - MINNESOTA
Oct. 15 - at Penn State
Oct. 22 - ILLINOIS
Oct. 29 - at Michigan
Nov. 5 - at Wisconsin
Nov. 12 - OHIO STATE
Nov. 19 - IOWA
Nov. 26 - at Indiana

The 2012 schedule:

Sept. 1 - EASTERN KENTUCKY
Sept. 8 - at Notre Dame
Sept. 15 - EASTERN MICHIGAN
Sept. 29 - MARSHALL
Oct. 6 - MICHIGAN
Oct. 13 - WISCONSIN
Oct. 20 - at Ohio State
Oct. 27 - at Minnesota
Nov. 3 - PENN STATE
Nov. 10 - at Iowa
Nov. 17 - at Illinois
Nov. 24 - INDIANA

In 2012, how about that scheduling balance, folks?  Five of six at home to start, then four of five on the road, with the only home game vs Penn State. Yeesh.

Next year, on September 10, the team travels to Houston to take on Rice. While this pleases me since I live here (BS tailgate in the Rice parking lot -- mark your calendar now), it's also interesting to think about how much time Purdue sports could be spending in Houston.

Last March's regional semi-finals in the NCAA Tourney.
This December, the Texas Bowl is in Reliant Stadium and features the 5th place Big Ten team.
Next April....there's something here. I can't quite remember what.

As you were.