EAST LANSING -- Sure there's the the win-loss record, strength of schedule and strength of conference.

But Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio thinks a few other factors could come into play when the committee selects the field for the first College Football Playoff in early December.

One of them, he says, could be television ratings and a desire to have teams from different parts of the country represented for the benefit of audience.

"I think we turn on a lot of TV sets, and let's not be naive, it's about who is watching the game, too," Dantonio said during his Tuesday press conference. "You've got a quarter of the country watching a football game. They want to see a football team from this part of the country in that game."

Dantonio also said he thought Michigan State's 2013 performance, when it went 13-1 and won the Rose Bowl, could come in and play. He pointed out that at this time last year, the Spartans were 4-1 and unranked. The 2014 Spartans are 4-1 and currently in the No. 8 spot in this week's Associated Press poll.

"It's my opinion that as a fan, as a football fan, that if you win and you have one loss, because of what you did the year before, the chances of you getting in a game are pretty good, because what happened last year has something to do with it," Dantonio said. "What happens in your conference has something to do with it. Your ranking obviously has a big part to do with it."

After taking a hit following the Oregon loss Sept. 6, Michigan State's playoff prospects are on the rise following its win over then-No. 19 Nebraska Saturday.

CBS Sports and ESPN both released playoff projections this week with the Spartans in the four-team field. Online sports betting site Bovada released updated national championship odds this week, with the Spartans listed at 8-to-1, the third-best odds of any team.

Without directly stumping for his team, Dantonio continued to make the case that a one-loss Big Ten champion should get playoff consideration.

"I remember last year, a lot of teams lose two games, a lot of teams," Dantonio said. "So it's tough to be a one-loss team and then a one-loss team is going to get at least a second look. They are going to at least get a look."

Dantonio reiterated four times when discussing the playoff Tuesday that his perspective is of a fan. Two weeks ago, Dantonio stated his opinion that only conference champions should be allowed in the four-team playoffs. He later clarified that to say his statement had nothing to do with independent teams.

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