STATE COLLEGE — The Big Ten might put more emphasis on geography when shuffling divisions after eastern schools Maryland and Rutgers join the Midwest-centric league by 2014.

Penn State athletic director Dave Joyner said officials within the league have had several discussions over the phone about potential divisional alignments.

“I have a feeling it will be more geography-based,” Joyner said. “There seems to be a lot of sentiment for that.”

It would be especially helpful, Joyner said, to ease travel issues and funding for travel, especially for Olympic sports.

Joyner made the comments in a videotaped interview with an athletics assistant communications director posted Tuesday on the department’s website.

Athletic directors have already met a couple times to discuss topics related to the additions. The current 12-team Big Ten is split into two divisions for football.