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I have determined over the years my pre-season power rankings always suck but I say screw it.  I am doubling down on my failed methods of the past and doing it my same way again.

1. OSU - Rule#1 in power  rankings.  Always rank OSU #1 until they lose.  Even if they lose early in OOC.  Still.keep them #1.

2.  Mich - I admit I have been hard on Harbaugh in my power rankings over the years but I have to give credit when it's due.  The team last year finished strong for once after a string of seasons of fizzling out late in the season. 

3.  MSU - I don't really believe there was a big difference last year between MSU, Purdue, Iowa, Wisc or Minn. But MSU was the only team to beat Michigan. Tucker serms to do a good job finding the right transfers for his team.

4.  Purdue -  This is my sleeper team despite losing some WR's.  Last year was 6-3 in conference with blowout wins over Iowa and MSU. 

5. Iowa - last year's team is kind of looked at as a fluke. Iowa had an awful offense, but was winning with takeaways and special teams.  Word out of camp is Iowa's defense is even better and Iowa's offense is even worse than last year.  I predict a lot of 13-10 scores but Iowa will find a way to win most of those games.

6 - Minn -  has been good enough to win the West but just can't get over that hump. 

7.  Wisc -  after a 1-3 start, Wisc finished strong but laid an egg against Minn to blow the Big Ten West.  Wisc is losing more players than other teams.

8.  PSU -  this is probably too low but PSU needs to prove to me they can step it up after a couple of mediocre seasons.

9. ILL - Illinois was kind of a jeckl and Hyde team last year.  Decent 1 week.  Awful the next.  Can they play more consistent this year?  At least they are good enough to blow out Wyoming.

10.  NW. - giving NW a bump after knocking off Neb in Dublin.  Plus this is an even numbered year (2022) and NW usually does good  in even number years.

11.  Neb. - same old problems for Neb - losing a game by 3 points after collapsing late in the game due to a special teams mistake.  Neb needs to figure out how to finish games.

12.  Rut - made some progress last year but needs to take the next step up.

13.  MD - usually starts strong in OOC then falls apart in conference games.

14. Ind - Boy did they fall like a rock last year.

1) Ohio State
2) Michigan
3) Wisconsin 
4) Penn State
5) Purdue
6) Michigan State
7) Iowa
8) Minnesota
9) Maryland
10) Nebraska - I still think they are a better team than Northwestern.  
11) Illinois - Solid start.  Starting to resemble the Bielema Wiscy teams
12) Northwestern - Better than expected, but still not sure this is a bowl team.
13) Rutgers
14) Indiana 

1 Ohio St
2 Michigan  
3 Penn State 
4 Michigan State 
5 Wisconsin 
6 Iowa 
7 Minnesota 
8 Purdue 
9 Illinois 
10 Northwestern 
11 Nebraska 
12 Maryland 
13 Rutgers 
14 Indiana 

Is Northwestern #13 in your list?

1. Michigan - gotta go with the champ till given a reason to drop them

2. Ohio State - lots of talent, can this born on 3rd base coach bring them home?
3. Penn State - solid team
4. Wisconsin - I wanna pick someone different in the west, but don't know who is better?
5. Michigan State - I think they are a half step lower than the big 3 in the east, but totally expect them to upset one of the teams above them.
6. Iowa - lines look good on paper.
7. Northwestern - way to rub salt in the wound wildcats.

7. Minnesota
8. Purdue
9. Illinois
11. Maryland
12. Indiana
13. Rutgers

14. Nebraska - dead man walking

• Ohio State 
• Michigan 
• Wisconsin 
• Penn State 
• Michigan State 
• Iowa
• Purdue 
• Minnesota 
• Illinois 
• Indiana 
• Northwestern 
• Maryland 
• Rutgers
• Nebraska 

#1 and #2 seem fairly obvious to me with (so far) only one typically pessimistic Buckeye not voting for tOSU at #1 and a solid majority having Michigan at #2.

Honestly #3 through #8 all have questions and I have no doubt that at least one will separate from that pack in a good way while another does so in a bad way. Even my #9 through #13 each have some possibility of being much better than I have them ranked.

As far as Nebraska is concerned, I could be wrong. Maybe Northwestern is somehow going to continue their odd recent history of being flat awful in odd-numbered years and winning their division in even-numbered years and a close loss to them isn't all that bad but I strongly doubt it. Frost appears to be done and this appears to be a lost season for the Cornhuskers which could quickly unravel as everyone (players and coaches) starts worrying more about their personal exit strategies than about any team goals.