Editor’s note: This column is written as part of a point-counterpoint. The other column, arguing that the Big Ten will be represented in the College Football Playoff, can be read here. 

Two weeks into the 2014 NCAA football season and one-fourth of my playoff prediction is in jeopardy.

I originally picked Michigan State to win the Big Ten securing one of my spots in the inaugural College Football Playoff. However, I am no longer confident about that pick after seeing the Spartans performance in their loss to Oregon.

And it’s not just about Michigan State — it’s about the Big Ten securing a spot, no matter who wins the conference.

Over the weekend, Jim Delany said he still believes a team can make it. But who?

Michigan State lost the most important game on their schedule. If the Spartans win out, the 13 voting members will highlight the loss to Oregon as the biggest drawback.

Ohio State is done without Braxton Miller. As great as Urban Meyer is, his system relies on talented quarterbacks. J.T Barrett is not Miller — yet. The Buckeyes loss to Virginia Tech, at home nonetheless, was embarrassing. Road wins will be an important factor when choosing a playoff team, and if a team cannot even win at home, why should it make it?

Wisconsin? For the first half, the Badgers led Western Illinois 2-0; those two points were scored on a fluke safety. The bigger issue for the Badgers is their lack of a true quarterback. Starter Tanner McEvoy is taking snaps after moving from safety, and it’s showing. He has struggled passing the ball, as he currently has completed 59.6 percent of his passes. Melvin Gordon was a legitimate Heisman contender, but he only managed 38 yards on 17 carries against the vaunted Leathernecks’ defense.

Nebraska and Michigan? Michigan was shut out against Notre Dame, in part because Devin Gardner led an offense that turned the ball over four times, including three interceptions. Nebraska? The Huskers won at home … barely. They almost fell to McNeese State.

Problems are aplenty throughout the conference and the weekend only highlighted them. And these have been problems long brewing. 2002 was the last time a Big Ten team won a national championship, and that was Jim Tressell’s Buckeyes.

Since 2010, the Big Ten is an astounding 8-29 against ranked opponents from the Power 5 conferences. That alone shows how far behind the conference is.

This is also a conference where Purdue and Illinois have combined for less wins over Big Ten opponents in the past two seasons than Northern Illinois. And NIU is a MAC team.

There is no one event that points to the Big Ten’s decline. Rather, it’s just been a cyclical thing. Top high school recruits are going to where the fun and success is, be it Pac-12, SEC or other powerful programs from the Power 5.

Some team will have to win the Big Ten this year, yet that team will not receive an invite to the playoffs.

There are just too many better, more deserving programs, even if those teams do not win their conference or have a loss on their resumes.

Sorry for the doom and gloom Maryland and Rutgers. Enjoy your stay in the Big Ten.

And no refunds.

Erik is a senior in Media. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @e_prada.