Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, November 20, 2012

As BTN's Gerry DiNardo mentioned during Tuesday's coverage of Rutgers joining the Big Ten, there are three variables to consider when creating the conference's new divisions: 1. Competitive balance; 2. geography; and 3. rivalries.

Right now, no one knows how the new divisions will look, and that includes commissioner Jim Delany. Said Delany on the rumors out there: "Those are news to me."

The only thing that's a guarantee is there will be change. Whether it's moving Illinois to the Legends and throwing Maryland and Rutgers into the Leaders – one of the popular rumors – or something else, we'll just have to wait and see.

[CLOTHES CALL: Meet the Maryland Terps | Meet the Rutgers Scarlet Knights]

Either way, these are the same three elements the conference considered when it created the Legends and Leaders. This time around, which criteria should the Big Ten view as the most important?

The question intrigued DiNardo, who said he thinks geography might make the most sense.

Jim Delany
US Presswire

He's right. After all, Delany and the Big Ten invited Maryland and Rutgers to provide Penn State with a dancing partner, as they've called it. That being the case, it's hard to believe they would welcome these teams and not hold geography in high regard.

But competitive balance and rivalries are important, as well.

As for competitive balance, it's the reason the Big Ten avoided putting three of its four biggest football powers – Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State and Penn State – in the same division. In the end, it split the quartet, with Michigan and Nebraska in the Legends and Ohio State and Penn State in the Leaders.

Rivalries, you ask? This is the Big Ten, home to several of the nation's oldest and most popular trophy games, so it's something that can't be taken lightly. But the best rivalries can be preserved, regardless of divisions, with the conference's protected rivals and the possible addition of a ninth conference game. Plus, new rivalries can be created, by the sheer fact of playing a division opponent every year.

[RELATED: Dienhart: Latest moves will shakes things up]

Regardless, it will be interesting to see what Delany and the conference deem the most important. Until then, we must wait for Delany and the schools' athletic directors to figure it all out.

Here's what BTN.com fans said on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/BasedObeezy/status/270977637197959168

https://twitter.com/Jeff_Venting/status/270979844735631361

https://twitter.com/JohnVeldhuis/status/270983525560381442

https://twitter.com/bigdmcquay/status/271035191173214208

About Brent Yarina BTN.com web editor Brent Yarina covers football and men's basketball for BTN.com. He writes the popular uniform feature "Clothes Call," which also focuses on the latest cosmetic changes across Big Ten arenas and stadiums. Read all of his work here. You can subscribe to Yarina's RSS feed and follow him on Twitter @BTNBrentYarina.