1) Ohio State: until someone proves differently.
2) Hmm. I'm going with Penn State, but not easily. On a neutral field, of the non-Ohio State teams, I'm thinking Penn State. Wins against Michigan and Iowa matter.
3) Wisconsin. Same as #2. Head-to-head over Michigan matters. Iowa is always a fight (almost always, anyway), but that wasn't as inspiring as I would have liked.
4) Michigan: what was the phrase, "flattering long-term arrows?" Solid wins against Iowa and Notre Dame. So trending in the right direction, but still losses to two of the three ahead of it.
5) Minnesota: why this low? Because the season is 9 weeks old now, not one, and Minnesota has one quality win. But it was a good one, and with games at Iowa and at home against Wisconsin remaining, could very well end up #2 heading into the conference championship game.
6) Iowa: three close losses to teams ahead of it in the ratings. Minnesota next weekend should be a good one.
Now it gets hard...
7) Indiana: on the strength of wins and losses. But man, this is shaky.
8) Illinois? Because of flattering long-term arrows, the best win of any team this low, and a striking comeback against Sparty? Sure, why not.
9) Michigan State: oof. Should have been #7, until giving up 27 points in the 4th quarter to the Illini.
10) Purdue: yeah, this "high."
11) Nebraska
12) Northwestern
13) Maryland: not too much shame in that; Ohio State is really good.
14) Rutgers. Because Rutgers.