After the seventh week of college football, we almost had our first major stunning upset. I would have been in significant pain had I needed to move the Badgers up, but OSU came through in the end. Sigh of relief. Here’s how I rank the Big Ten teams after seven weeks of play.

Big Ten East

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (LW #1)

That was close. Wisconsin played the Buckeyes extremely close, but OSU pulled it out in overtime. I’ll keep the Buckeyes here for now, but it might be closer than we think between one and two. A trip to Penn State in a prime time game on ABC comes this week, and Ohio State hopes not a repeat of 2014.

#2 Michigan Wolverines (LW#2)

Michigan enjoyed their bye week by watching the Buckeyes almost lose. They stay at #2 this week, but if they had an impressive win, they could have jumped to #1. Timing is key. Illinois comes to the Big House in what should be insanely ugly.

#3 Indiana Hoosiers (LW #3)

Indiana almost pulled off the upset of Nebraska at home. But almost just isn’t enough. The Hoosiers go to Northwestern in what is almost a must-win to keep their momentum going.

#4 Penn State Nittany Lions (LW #6)

PSU got an extra week to get ready for the Buckeyes to come to town. Can the Nittany Lions shock the world?

#5 Maryland Terrapins (LW #5)

Well...the bottom sure dropped out of these teams didn’t they. Maryland is not good. And they still appear to be better than the two teams below them. We will find out for sure on one at least when the Spartans come to town Saturday night.

#6 Michigan State Spartans (LW #6)

That was not good. Nothing like letting a mediocre Northwestern team now have the record for most points ever scored by an opponent at Spartan Stadium. Ouch. Now a must win if Sparty wants any chance at a bowl game this week at Maryland.

#7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW #7)

Illinois even beat you by three scores. If Minnesota doesn’t at minimum match that Saturday there is going to be a lot of grumbling.

Big Ten West

#1 Wisconsin Badgers (LW #2)

An impressive loss is sometimes better than a narrow win. The Badgers get the jump this week. A battle for the Heartland Trophy and early Quadrangle of Hate superiority happens this weekend in Iowa City.

#2 Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW #1)

Nebraska pulled out a tight win over Indiana. If it wasn’t for Wisconsin almost beating OSU they would still be #1. Purdue comes to town this week trying to moor the harbor in Lincoln.

#3 Northwestern Wildcats (LW #3)

Big win over a fadeing Spartan squad, but setting the record for most points by an opponent at MSU is still damn impressive. A big game vs Indiana looms Saturday.

#4 Iowa Hawkeyes (LW #4)

Iowa made a game against Purdue closer than it probably should have been, but got the win and the reward for being the one to finally take out Darryll Hazel. A chance to move up happens with the Badgers in town this week.

#5 Minnesota Gophers (LW # 5)

Finally a game that went as it should have. But the fans will get insanely restless if the repeat doesn’t happen with Rutgers in town this weekend.

#6 Illinois Fighing Illini (LW #7)

The Illinois and Purdue flip-flop continues. Illinois got a win (I mean..it was Rutgers), and didn’t fire their coach. Thus they move up. They get rewarded with a trip to Michigan. LOL that’s not going to be pretty.

#7 Purdue Boilermakers (LW #6)

Bye-Bye Darryl. It was fun while it lasted. Purdue goes to Lincoln in what should be another loss Saturday.

My Rank 1-14

1. Ohio State Buckeyes (LW #1)
2. Michigan Wolverines (LW #2)
3. Wisconsin Badgers (LW #4)
4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW #3)
5. Indiana Hoosiers (LW #5)
6. Northwestern Wildcats (LW #7)
7. Penn State Nittany Lions (LW #6)
8. Iowa Hawkeyes (LW #8)
9. Minnesota Gophers (LW #11)
10. Maryland Terrapins (LW #9)
11. Michigan State Spartans (LW #10)
12. Illinois Fighting Illini (LW # 13)
13. Purdue Boilermakers (LW #12)
14. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW #14)