Split (Up) Into Groups

[Samantha293]

a) "The class split into small groups."
b) "The class split up into small groups."

I heard of both "split" and "split up" used like they are the same (but are they?). Could they be the same here?

[emsr2d2]

a) "The class split into small groups."
b) "The class split up into small groups."

I heard of both "split" and "split up" used like they are the same (but are they?). Could they be the same here?

Here, they're the same.