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As we approach the mid-point of the Big Ten season, tiers have begun to form. Ohio State and Michigan State sit up top with Michigan and Iowa just behind. Then, after a significant drop off, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Northwestern and Illinois appear in the middle of the conference rankings. Rutgers, Indiana and Minnesota are just above bottom-dwellers Maryland and Purdue.
Here are our staff's rankings of the Big Ten teams after seven weeks:
1![]() Ohio State Buckeyes
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Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.14 |
2

Michigan State Spartans
RECORD: 7-0 (3-0) || LAST WEEK: T-2
Elation. Pure elation for the Spartans after a shocking win at Michigan.
Elation. Pure elation for the Spartans after a shocking win at Michigan.
Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1.86 |
3

Michigan Wolverines
RECORD: 5-2 (2-1) || LAST WEEK: T-2
Michigan has a bye week to recover from a gut-wrenching loss.
Michigan has a bye week to recover from a gut-wrenching loss.
Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
4

Iowa Hawkeyes
RECORD: 7-0 (3-0) || LAST WEEK: 4
Iowa, most likely, will be favored in the rest of its regular season games.
Iowa, most likely, will be favored in the rest of its regular season games.
Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
5

Wisconsin Badgers
RECORD: 5-2 (2-1) || LAST WEEK: 6
Wisconsin's still improving, but isn't clicking just yet.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
6

Nebraska Cornhuskers
RECORD: 3-4 (1-2) || LAST WEEK: 9
Nebraska earned its first Big Ten win last week and its four losses on the year have been by a combined 11 points.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
6 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6.43 |
7

Penn State Nittany Lions
RECORD: 5-2 (2-1) || LAST WEEK: 7
Even with a setback at Ohio State, Penn State has still looked improved.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
7 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7.29 |
8

Northwestern Wildcats
RECORD: 5-2 (1-2) || LAST WEEK: 5
What a rapid decline for Northwestern in just two weeks.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7.43 |
9

Illinois Fighting Illini
RECORD: 4-2 (1-1) || LAST WEEK: 8
This team is dangerous.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8.86 |
10

Rutgers Scarlet Knight
RECORD: 3-3 (1-2) || LAST WEEK: 12
After playing well for two-straight weeks, Rutgers can't be overlooked in the Big Ten.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10.43 |
11

Indiana Hoosiers
RECORD: 4-3 (0-3) || LAST WEEK: 11
Three Big Ten losses in a row, and it doesn't get any easier. Indiana plays Michigan State, Iowa and Michigan in the coming weeks.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
12

Minnesota Golden Gophers
RECORD: 4-3 (1-2) || LAST WEEK: 10
After playing well in a win at Purdue, Minnesota appeared to have regained its confidence. But it laid an egg at home against Nebraska last week.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
12 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11.57 |
13

Maryland Terrapins
RECORD: 2-4 (0-2) || LAST WEEK: 14
Interim head coach Mike Locksley will coach his first game this week against Penn State.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13.29 |
14

Purdue Boilermakers
RECORD: 1-6 (0-3) || LAST WEEK: 14
Bold prediction: Purdue will not lose next week.Henry Bushnell | Josh Rosenblat | Zach Pereles | Josh Burton | Ian McCafferty | Sam Brief | Zach Wingrove | AVERAGE |
13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13.71 |