I'm aware of the "usually taken" position, but that's simply opinion as well. If you look at Gen 10:32, it appears to make the distinction between the nations and the earth itself. Verse 25 doesn't say 'were the nations divided in the earth', but simply that the earth was divided. "Ha ares" is "the earth" in Hebrew and as used elsewhere, it refers to the earth itself such as in earlier verses of Genesis, i.e.; Gen 1.1, 1:11, 1:12. 1:15. and so on. In verse 10 of Gen 1, God called the dry land "eres" (earth), a variation of 'ares'. Just my view on this for your consideration.
Gen 10:32
32These
are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Gen 10:25
25And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one
was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name
was Joktan.