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.

Michigan is heads and shoulders ahead of everyone else. Yet they still could blow it in their last game this week and watch it all fall away and lose almost anything. What a weird year in the Big Ten.

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Big Ten East:

#1 Michigan Wolverines

It wasn’t 42-7, and Indiana gave Michigan a legitimate threat for a little bit, but the Wolverines are the clear top team in the conference. Yet it could all disappear with a loss in Columbus on Saturday. Will Harbaugh finally win the big one?

#2 Ohio State Buckeyes

That was a crazy game. Ohio State should have lost about 5 times, but Maryland just could not pull it off. Ohio State for all its ups and downs this year still is a win over Michigan away from the Big Ten title game and maybe even a playoff spot...

#3 Penn State Nittany Lions

Penn State didn’t look great against Rutgers, but they got the 20-7 win. They are still playing for a potential NY6 bowl this Saturday against Maryland.

#4 Michigan State Spartans

Sparty No. Michigan State and Nebraska set football back decades last Saturday with Nebraska’s 9-6 win in Lincoln. Not a good year for Dantonio’s squad and it will get even worse if Rutgers can somehow beat them this week.

#5 Maryland Terrapins

Maryland almost pulled off a hell of an upset but just could not seal the deal against the Buckeyes. They now need to find a way to beat Penn State this weekend to go bowling. Not feeling great about their chances.

#6 Indiana Hooisers

Indiana put a scare into Michigan but its obvious they were out manned. Now they need to beat Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket to go bowling. Not easy, but it can be done.

#7 Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Rutgers has one last chance for a surprise win this season at Michigan State. But hey...Chris Ash is coming back...so...enjoy that Scarlet Knight fans.

Big Ten West

#1 Northwestern Wildcats

The Wildcats took advantage of enough Minnesota mistakes to get a win last week, but man they really are the best of a weak West class. They easily should be able to beat Illinois for the Hat if they aren’t looking way past them towards Michigan/OSU.

#2 Wisconsin Badgers

The Badgers nearly did get harbored last weekend but Purdue. Unfortunately, the Boilermakers choked and could not hang onto a 13 point 4th quarter lead. Maybe Wisconsin will have the same fate as the Boilers this weekend? Probably not, but a guy’s got to wish...right?

#3 Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa won their biggest conference game in history with a 63-0 thrashing of the Illini. They will look to end the regular season with a repeat thrashing of the Cornhuskers Friday.

#4 Purdue Boilermakers

Purdue....come on man. With the Boilers still needing a win this week to go bowling, and what appears to be their coach hightailing it out of West Lafayette on Monday, I wouldn’t be shocked to see Indiana pull off the win Saturday.

#5 Nebraska Cornhuskers

It was insanely ugly, but a 9-6 win counts the same as 90-6. Big game for the Frosties in Iowa City Friday.

#6 Minnesota Golden Gophers

One step forward, two steps back. Can Minnesota take the leap forward this week, or will it be falling backwards on their ass once more.

#7 Illinois Fighting Illini

63-0. Ouch. That’s just brutal Lovie. One more game against Northwestern this week.

Overall Big Ten Rankings (last week in parenthesis)

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