Nebraska's Road to Making the College Football Playoff

Nebraska can't be counted out just yet. After the College Football Playoff committee ranked the Huskers No. 15, it's clear that Bo Pelini and his team have an outside chance of making it into the final four. It's not a significant chance, but the chance is still there regardless.

The Huskers only have one loss (to Michigan State) so far this season. "I know personally we have so much more out there for us," I-back Ameer Abdullah said after the Huskers defeated Rutgers.

What exactly is out there for Nebraska? Can the team really earn a playoff berth?

Record	Playoff Committee Poll	AP Poll	Coaches Poll	Strength of Schedule
7-1	15	17	16	34

Biggest Obstacles to Playoff Berth

The Huskers do not have an easy path to the playoffs. First and foremost, Nebraska has to face Wisconsin and Iowa on the road. If they survive that, the Huskers would then be looking to face either Michigan State or Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship.

Before the title game can come into discussion, Nebraska is going to have to travel to Madison, Wisconsin. The last time the Huskers made that trip in 2011, the team lost 48-17. A year later, Nebraska was able to secure a 30-27 victory at home during the regular season. However, the Badgers responded by dropping 70 points on Nebraska in the 2012 Big Ten Championship game.

Andy Manis/Associated Press

Two years later, the Huskers need to beat Wisconsin. It won't be easy, especially with running back Melvin Gordon to worry about. The Abdullah-Gordon showdown is going to be fun to watch, but it's still one Nebraska needs to pay close attention to. Gordon has 1,168 yards and 16 touchdowns on 154 attempts so far this season, per ESPN.com. He's also averaging 7.6 yards per carry.

I've said before that the Wisconsin matchup will be a true test for Pelini. Out of all matchups on the horizon (with the exception of the championship game), Wisconsin is going to be the biggest obstacle.

Beyond future opponents, one of Nebraska's biggest obstacles is itself. The Huskers are often their own worst enemy, but they are going to have to win out. That's going to require discipline in November.

Date	Opponent	Location
Nov. 1	Purdue	Lincoln, NE
Nov. 8	BYE
Nov. 15	Wisconsin	Madison, WI
Nov. 22	Minnesota	Lincoln, NE
Nov. 28	Iowa	Iowa City, IA
Dec. 6	Big Ten Championship*	Indianapolis, IN

Help Needed

Winning out won't be the one thing Nebraska needs to earn a playoff berth. The Huskers will also need a little help.

For instance, it wouldn't hurt for either Kansas State or TCU to drop a game between now and the end of the regular season. It also wouldn't hurt for Michigan State to lose to Ohio State on Nov. 8. That would likely then give the Huskers a matchup with the Buckeyes, who the committee ranked at No. 16, in the Big Ten Championship.

If it came down to Nebraska and Ohio State in the championship game and Nebraska were to win, depending on what played out with the teams ranked higher, the Huskers could find themselves just on the outside of the playoffs.

To help with strength of schedule, the Huskers do need future opponents to keep winning. That's an argument for why Michigan State should keep winning. However, defeating either Ohio State or Michigan State would be beneficial for the Huskers in Indianapolis.

Getting to the playoffs is unfortunately not just on Nebraska. The Huskers will need higher-ranked teams to lose while also relying on future opponents to keep winning to help their strength of schedule.

Prediction

According to ESPN Insider (subscription required), Nebraska has a 43.1 percent chance of winning out. As for the toughest opponent left on the schedule? ESPN Insider believes that's Wisconsin and that the Huskers have a 66 percent chance of winning that matchup.

Ultimately, the Big Ten West hasn't been spectacular this year. Making it to Indianapolis is truly in the Huskers' hands, but if they do make it and win, can they truly make the College Football Playoff?

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Unfortunately, strength of schedule is going to play a huge factor in Nebraska's shot at the playoffs. Going along with the Big Ten West's (and East's, for that matter) struggles in 2014, it could really harm the Huskers' chances. According to the FEI ratings, Nebraska has only three top-40 opponents on this year's schedule. That doesn't do the Huskers any favors.

The best Nebraska can do at this point is win out and let the cards fall as they may. A playoff berth will require more than just a perfect Nebraska but losses from teams, such as Kansas State or TCU. Relying on the outcome of others is never something to bank on. All Nebraska can do is worry about itself.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.