Big Ten set to announce six-team divisions for 2011

PARK RIDGE, Ill. -- Hold your breath, Big Ten fans: The conference will announce Wednesday evening how it intends to break into two, six-team divisions starting next season.

Football will be most affected by the divisional format. Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany has said the conference's athletic directors and school presidents will go to great lengths to respect traditional rivalries.

Michigan and Ohio State have played each other in the regular-season finale every year since 1943, and there are a host of other rivalries around the conference.

Nebraska will join the Big Ten as its 12th team next year.