The final month of the regular season is always filled with teams and conferences vying for College Football Playoff spots, as coaches advocate for their leagues in postseason berths. Before the debut of the CFP Top 25 rankings, Texas’s Steve Sarkisian pushed for three-loss SEC teams as playoff candidates. Following the rankings’ reveal, Nebraska’s Matt Rhule defended the Big Ten.

Rhule emphasized the potential of four two-loss teams in his conference, expressing that if one were to break into the bracket – specifically No. 19 USC, No. 20 Iowa, No. 21 Michigan, and No. 23 Washington – the Big Ten could have four representatives in the national championship race.

“I think the Big Ten teams with two losses are underappreciated,” Rhule said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “I think Iowa’s having a heck of a season. I think SC is having a heck of a season, and many more. Michigan is at 7-2. … I do think there are some really good teams in the Big Ten. We deserve four in.”

The CFP selection committee considers each of the Big Ten’s two-loss teams similarly, categorizing them into a tier in its first rankings. Although respected as playoff contenders, they currently find themselves outside the 12-team bracket.

These teams, including the Trojans, Hawkeyes, Wolverines, and Huskies must likely achieve a 10-2 record to secure a playoff berth.