It's a new era in college football, as the first playoff rankings have been released. And understandably, questions about those rankings and the playoffs dominate Wednesday's mailbag:

@ESPN_BigTen @BennettESPN do you think if either OSU, MSU, or Neb win out and win B1G champ they will be part of playoff?

- Zach Burton (@zbandj) October 29, 2014

Brian Bennett: That's the key question, isn't it? I'm not so sure. It's impossible to answer without knowing what happens elsewhere, and the Big Ten needs other leagues to falter. That's why Thursday night's game between Florida State and Louisville is huge for the conference. If the Seminoles win, it's hard to see them losing this season. That would all but guarantee FSU a spot in the playoff, and I believe two SEC teams will make it (the committee showed its admiration for the SEC by ranking three teams from that league in the top four and four in the top six on Tuesday night). That leaves only one spot open, and the Big Ten would be competing with the Big 12 champ, the Pac-12 champ and possibly Notre Dame. At this point, I would say the Big Ten does not get in. But there is a lot of football left. Remember that at this time a year ago with the BCS, Michigan State was unranked.

@BennettESPN What's better for MSU: Oregon wins out & stays ranked ahead, or Oregon loses one more & drops below MSU but hurts MSU's resume?

- Jeff Brennemonster (@brennemania) October 29, 2014

Brian Bennett: An excellent question. On the surface, it would seem like a one-loss Pac-12 champion Ducks team would help Michigan State's cause. But I as I wrote in the previous answer, there could be a lot of jockeying among one-loss teams for perhaps only one or two playoff spots. I actually think the Spartans are better off if Oregon loses another game (but just one) and goes on to win the Pac-12. Michigan State will still get credit for going to Eugene despite the loss, but the Pac-12 would be essentially out of the running. Heck, the coaches' poll already has Michigan State ranked ahead of Oregon. If only those guys watched some games ...

@BennettESPN As a husker fan I was ecstatic to see that Nebraska was 15 how do you feel about a possibility of one of the "bcs" bowls for us

- Brandon Williamson (@Husker_bran) October 29, 2014

Brian Bennett: It was a mild surprise seeing Nebraska ranked one spot ahead of Ohio State, but it was also completely understandable. The Huskers' résumé is just as good if not better than the Buckeyes', and their lone loss (at Michigan State) is infinitely better than Ohio State's loss at home to 4-4 Virginia Tech. This would probably be a good time to review bowl tie-ins and procedures in case the Big Ten champion does not get into the playoff. The league winner would then go to either the Cotton, Peach or Fiesta Bowl. Those bowl matchups will be decided by the playoff selection committee. The Big Ten champion is not eligible to play in the Orange Bowl, though that game could feature a Big Ten non-champion if it is ranked higher than SEC non-playoff teams or Notre Dame -- which seems unlikely given the glut of top 10 SEC teams. Nebraska almost certainly needs to win the conference to be ranked high enough to qualify for one of the marquee non-playoff bowls. I still think the Huskers are the best team in the West Division, though trips to Wisconsin and Iowa won't be easy. If Nebraska doesn't win the Big Ten, I would bet on the Bo Pelini's team ending up in the Holiday Bowl, because the league's new bowl guidelines are aimed at avoiding repeat destinations, and Big Red has gone to Florida three straight years.

Kameron from Glen Ellyn, Ill. writes: I agree both Ameer Abdullah and Melvin Gordon are deserving of making it to NYC. I am biased as a Husker fan but Abdullah's blemish against MSU I feel is better than Gordon's against an inferior opponent like WIU where he had 38 yards. I would think voters would view that as worse than the MSU game for Abdullah. Your thoughts?

Brian Bennett: If you're going to have a bad day during a Heisman campaign, it's better to do it in a blowout game against a no-name opponent than to in a loss during your biggest game of the season on national TV. Gordon also was coming off a hip flexor injury against LSU when he had the subpar game against Western Illinois. Abdullah was not able to carry his team to victory or get much of anything going at Michigan State.

But let's acknowledge that we're splitting hairs here. Both players are having incredible seasons, and both are more than worthy of a trip to New York City as Heisman finalists. As is, for that matter, Indiana's Tevin Coleman. Recent history suggests, however, that it will be tough for more than one running back to make it there.