Big Ten's Playoff Hopes on the Line in Week 6

Remember when the Big Ten was unofficially out of the playoff picture? It wasn't that long ago.

The death of the Big Ten, as Bleacher Report's Adam Kramer lamented, happened in Week 2. That's when Nebraska needed a miracle from running back Ameer Abdullah to beat McNeese State. That's when Michigan was shut out 31-0 by Notre Dame. That's when Ohio State was stunned by Virginia Tech in The Horseshoe and Michigan State found itself unable to beat Oregon on the road.

The conference is 5-11 against fellow power-five schools heading into Week 6, with its best win easily being Indiana's upset over Missouri on the road.

For the most part, though, there have been sweeping narratives about how lowly the Big Ten has been.

However, the Big Ten's playoff chances also rest partially on what happens in Week 6—not solely on what happened in early September.

The first fact that should be addressed is that many of the bad losses and close calls came from teams that aren't realistically in the playoff picture—or aren't anymore, at least.

Sure, Purdue was pummeled by Central Michigan, but it's also fair to wonder whether the Boilermakers will win three games this year. Iowa, which had a close call against Ball State, is looking more and more like a middle-of-the-road conference team.

The top of the Big Ten is what matters.

The likes of Michigan State and undefeated Nebraska shouldn't be counted out just yet. In fact, Bleacher Report's resident playoff guru, Sam Chi, has the Spartans and Huskers in his latest mock playoff standings at No. 13 and No. 16, respectively.

As it happens, the marquee Big Ten game in Week 6 is Nebraska's trip to Michigan State.

There's a lot on the line beyond just another win. Abdullah, leading the nation with 833 rushing yards, could continue his ever-growing Heisman Trophy campaign against a defense that allows fewer than three yards per rushing attempt.

A win on the road against Michigan State would look great for Nebraska's playoff resume. It would also remove much of the bad taste left over from the win over McNeese State. The season is still young, but a road win in East Lansing would undoubtedly launch Nebraska into a greater postseason discussion.

Nati Harnik/Associated Press

Conversely, the Spartans can ill afford to lose another game. A win over Oregon in Week 2 could have bought some forgiveness. By itself, there's nothing wrong with Sparty's road loss against a quality opponent. Anyone who watched that game knows Michigan State hung with Oregon in a way the box score simply doesn't show.

If the selection committee is going to punish teams that lose quality games, what's the point of scheduling them?

Still, a two-loss team is going to have a steep hill to climb to even think about a playoff spot.

If Spartans coach Mark Dantonio had it his way, only conference champions would make the playoff. That's likely Michigan State's only path now—and that's if it wins every game going forward.

"My vision is you should be a champion of your league before you can be a champion of the country," Dantonio said, per Kyle Austin of Mlive.com. "That would be my vision, if I was doing it. Might not happen like that. But that would be my vision."

Do top Big Ten teams need help getting into the playoff? Possibly, but that's why there are two full months of college football left. Let everything play out.

No one in the discussion for one of the four coveted spots is truly out of the running yet.

Reports of the Big Ten's death in regard to the playoff picture may have been greatly exaggerated.

Ben Kercheval is a lead writer for college football at Bleacher Report. All stats courtesy of cfbstats.com. All quotes cited unless obtained firsthand.