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For the third consecutive season I am back with my own personal Big Ten Football Power Poll. Every week I will rank the Big Ten teams how I see them, first by division, and then all fourteen teams in order. Sometimes there is rationality for how I see them ranked, and sometimes its just how I feel at the time. But I promise the rankings will make general sense—no ranking Rutgers #1 or anything stupid like that.
Somehow Northwestern has wrapped up the West title while Michigan is still in control of the east. Purdue takes a step back as well after the Gophers thrashed them.
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Big Ten East:
#1 Michigan Wolverines
A second consecutive 42-7 win has Michigan still sitting pretty. Indiana should not provide much threat this weekend before the biggest game of the season a week later.
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes
The Buckeyes didn’t have too much trouble with the Spartans and keep their hold on the #2 spot easily. A trip to Maryland should not be too much trouble this Saturday before...well you know.
#3 Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State gets a much needed win against a depleted Wisconsin team but moved up thanks to the Buckeyes win over MSU. Rutgers this week should be another easy win.
#4 Michigan State Spartans
Sparty took a step back in their loss to the Buckeyes but can get back on track this week in Lincoln.
#5 Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana won their first game in over a month to get to 5-5, but getting win #6 will not be easy with a trip to Ann Arbor this week and Purdue the week after.
#6 Maryland Terrapins
Maryland may be kicking themselves after losing to Indiana last week. They sit at 5-5 and with Ohio State coming to town this weekend and a trip to Penn State next weekend, it may be home for the Holidays.
#7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Only two more weeks Scarlet Knights. Then it will all be over. Penn State this week is the enforcer.
Big Ten West
#1 Northwestern Wildcats
The Wildcats really are the Big Ten West Champs. Its hard to believe but they will be heading to Indy. Hopefully with nothing to play for this week they slip up a bit and let the Gophers pull the same trick they did on Purdue.
#2 Wisconsin Badgers
A loss to Penn State is nothing to be ashamed about, but a 6-4 record at this point is not what Wisconsin had in mind. This week the Badgers try to not get harbored in West Lafayette.
#3 Iowa Hawkeyes
Iowa loses two in a row but moves up a spot because how how bad Purdue looked last week. They should snap that streak at Illinois this week.
#4 Purdue Boilermakers
Minnesota absolutely made Purdue their beyotch last Saturday. Hopefully Purdue can recover to do the same to Wisconsin.
#5 Nebraska Cornhuskers
Nebraska easily beat up on a bad Illinois team and gets Michigan State this weekend at home.
#6 Minnesota Golden Gophers
A big win for Minnesota to get to 5-5...do they have one more in them to get to a bowl?
#7 Illinois Fighting Illini
Yeah they beat Minnesota head to head, but they are a garbage team. Iowa should smoke them Saturday.
Overall Big Ten Rankings (last week in parenthesis)
- Michigan Wolverines (1)
- Ohio State Buckeyes (2)
- Penn State Nittany Lions (4)
- Michigan State Spartans (3)
- Northwestern Wildcats (6)
- Wisconsin Badgers (5)
- Iowa Hawkeyes (8)
- Purdue Boilermakers (7)
- Nebraska Cornhuskers (10)
- Minnesota Golden Gophers (13)
- Indiana Hoosiers (11)
- Maryland Terrapins (9)
- Illinois Fighting Illini (12)
- Rutgers Scarlet Knights (14)