Maybe the Big Ten should have its own playoff.

For the second straight week, the College Football Playoff selection committee rankings have a distinct Big Ten feel. Four of the top seven teams in this week's rankings are from the Big Ten, including No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Michigan, who square off Saturday in Columbus (noon ET, ABC/ESPN App). Wisconsin is No. 6, and Penn State is No. 7.

This might be the final calm before the storm, especially with Rivalry Week and so many big matchups looming. In addition to the Michigan-Ohio State showdown, the Washington-Washington State, Oklahoma-Oklahoma State, Clemson-South Carolina and Alabama-Auburn rivalry games will also play key roles in determining who gets into the playoff.

Perhaps the big question is this: Can two Big Ten teams make the playoff?

If so, it would be the first time in the playoff era that two teams from the same conference made the field.

For the Big Ten to crash the playoff party with two teams, it's going to need some help. Washington is No. 5 this week. But if the Huskies lose Friday at No. 23 Washington State or against the South winner in the Pac-12 championship game, that could very well eliminate the Pac-12 from playoff contention.

The Oklahoma-Oklahoma State winner also remains in the hunt. The Sooners are No. 8 and the Cowboys No. 10 this week. The Bedlam winner will have a chance but probably needs an upset in one of the other conference championship games.

Believe it or not, Penn State might be the Big Ten team that has the clearest path to the playoff if the Nittany Lions beat Michigan State at home Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) and Ohio State beats Michigan. That would put Penn State, not Ohio State, in the Big Ten championship game against either Wisconsin or No. 16 Nebraska. If the Nittany Lions, who have a head-to-head win over Ohio State (on Oct. 22), win the Big Ten title, the committee might be hard-pressed to go with the Buckeyes over the Nittany Lions in that scenario, even though Ohio State would have one fewer loss.

USC, one of the country's hottest teams, is still outside the top 10 this week at No. 12 and an extreme long shot. The Trojans would probably need chaos to have any chance to make the field. For starters, they would need to win the Pac-12 championship and probably would need Clemson to be upset in the ACC championship game.

Keep in mind that the conference championship quotient isn't applied until that final weekend when the titles are decided.

Either way, it could get dicey for the committee if it comes down to a choice between Ohio State and Penn State.