After the third week of college football, we have some flipping and shifting thanks to a few upsets/near upsets and teams finally falling back to the pack. After the third week here is how I rank the fourteen Big Ten teams by both division and overall.

Big Ten East

#1 Ohio State Buckeyes (LW #1)

The Buckeyes showed that they are a national title contender by going into Normal and beating up on a quality Oklahoma team. Going to have to be a good team to beat the Buckeyes this season. They enjoy a bye this week before the Big Ten season begins.

#2 Michigan State Spartans (LW#3)

Don’t doubt Mark Dantonio. The game got a bit closer than it should have been at the end, but Michigan State went into South bend and whipped up on the Irish for the first two and a half quarters. They proved they will be a team to be reckoned with this season. Now the Big Ten season starts as they host Bucky on Saturday in hopefully another impressive win.

#3 Michigan Wolverines (LW #2)

A bit of a slow start for Michigan, but they picked up steam and convincingly beat Colorado, but not as convincing as their eastern foes. Penn State comes into the Big House to start the Big Ten season Saturday.

#4 Indiana Hoosiers (LW #4)

Indiana enjoyed a bye, and no one really made an argument to leap past them, so here they stay. Wake Forest comes to town this week in what should get Indiana half way to bowl eligibility.

#5 Penn State Nittany Lions (LW #5)

Penn State made it close again against Temple but hung on to get the win. We should really get an idea of what they can be this week against Michigan.

#6 Maryland Terrapins (LW #6)

Double overtime against Central Florida is not exactly confidence boosting, but Maryland is 3-0...so I guess their fans cant complain too much. A bye this week before Big Ten play starts.

#7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights (LW #7)

Rutgers made it way closer than it should have been against New Mexico, but a win’s a win. Iowa comes to town and after last week, I wouldn’t want to be the Scarlet Knights.

Big Ten West

#1 Nebraska Cornhuskers (LW #2)

Hey...a Big Ten West team that showed up last week. A good win for Nebraska over Oregon shows they are for real and are the early leader in the clubhouse of the wild open West. They open in a night game against “archrival” Northwestern in Evanston, which automatically means drama’s coming.

#2 Wisconsin Badgers (LW #3)

You almost lose to Georgia State at home and move up a spot. Yeah I don’t get it either and I’m doing the ranking. Hopefully Sparty continues to take the Badgers down another peg.

#3 Iowa Hawkeyes (LW #1)

Welcome to the club Hawkeyes. Meetings are on Tuesday afternoons at 3. See you there. Guessing they take out their angst on Rutgers Saturday.

#4 Minnesota Gophers (LW#4)

Bye week means staying put. Sure, they could have jumped Iowa, but really they haven’t done anything to deserve that. Yet.

#5 Northwestern Wildcats (LW # 7)

Well....they won a game. So, that makes them the best of the rest at the moment I guess. Nebraska comes to town and its time to see what drama happens this year.

#6 Purdue Boilermakers (LW #6)

Bye week means you keep your spot when Illinois makes an ass of themselves. Purdue hosts Nevada in what should be a win....but with Purdue do you really ever know?

#7 Illinois Fighting Illini (LW #5)

Row row row your boat, go to 2-0. Big Ten West is not the best, maybe Lovie doesn’t know? Bye week for the Illini too.

My Rank 1-14

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