North Carolina Tar Heels: Potential to Jump in Playoff Ratings

Nov 28, 2015; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans cornerback Arjen Colquhoun (36) and cornerback Jermaine Edmondson (39) carry the Big Ten east championship trophy after a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

5. Michigan State Spartans

Obstacle Difficulty: Hard

Rationale:
One loss vs one loss
Conference champ vs conference champ
Better Spartan wins: Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa (theoretically)

The winner of the Big Ten Championship is in the playoff. That is why the committee was not real concerned about how they ranked 4 and 5 over the past two weeks. The Spartans are likely the favorite to do so.

It is hard to say whether the Tar Heels would prefer a Sparty victory or an Iowa victory. It depends on much you value the number of losses. A Sparty loss would be its second on the year, and more clarifying than looking at one loss Iowa.

Next: Iowa Hawkeyes