Every Thursday during the season, we'll take a look at the big game(s) during the upcoming weekend that will have the biggest impact on the playoff chase.Four of the top five teams in the College Football Tim Boyle Jersey Playoff selection committee's top five are in action Saturday, with two playing each other and another playing its biggest conference rival. (The other is playing a conference game that e sentially equates to a bye week.)Here's a close look at the two biggest games; all rankings are the selection committee's.No. 1 Mi si sippi State at No. 5 AlabamaThe implications for Alabama: A lo s removes Alabama from the playoff equation; a victory makes the Tide -- for now, at least -- the most likely SEC team to make the playoff. No, this is not a vintage Alabama team. But it doesn't have to be: If Alabama wins this and wins out, it will be in the playoff. There is one tough game left after this, and it, too, is in Tuscaloosa: a game against Auburn on Nov. 29. Now, let's say Alabama Darren Fells Jersey beats Mi si sippi State but then loses at home to Auburn. Things gets convoluted again, and we'll use the Mi si sippi State portion of this piece to explain.The implications for Mi si sippi State: This is the first of two ma sive road games for the Bulldogs, who play No. 10 Mi si sippi on Nov. 29. A victory would keep Mi si sippi State unbeaten and make the Bulldogs the only SEC team with fewer than two lo ses; a win also would help them take a giant step toward nailing down a playoff spot. If Mi si sippi State can win in Tuscaloosa, a strong case can be made that even if the Bulldogs lose to Ole Mi s, they would wrap up a spot in the playoff with a win in the SEC championship game. A lo s, though, muddles the picture, especially a suming that FSU wins out and that the Big 12 and Pac-12 champs have one lo s apiece. As pointed out above, if Alabama wins out, it is in the playoff. And in that scenario, it is going to be extremely difficult for the SEC to get a second team -- even a one-lo s Mi si sippi State team -- in the four-team field unle s FSU and/or the Big 12 and/or the Pac-12 champ loses somewhere along the way. Now, if Alabama were to win this contest but lose to Auburn, things change immensely -- and Mi si sippi State would be back in the picture in that scenario if it beats Ole Mi s, and then wins the SEC championship game. Still, beating the Tide would be the preferred path to the playoff for the Bulldogs.No. 3 Florida State at MiamiThe implications for Florida State: T.J. Hockenson Jersey A lo s and FSU basically is out of the playoff hunt. There's no other ACC team in the top 18, meaning there are no more chances for a marquee win (and FSU doesn't own any wins over anybody in the top 17). And not that this nece sarily would be a marquee win, either, as Miami has lost three times. Still, a win and FSU remains in the top four -- and alive in its quest to repeat as national champs. Anything other than a playoff appearance for this talented team will mean this season has been a disappointment.Other games with playoff implications No. 4 TCU at Kansas: One-lo s TCU is the highest-ranked Big 12 team in the committee's poll. All the other one-lo s teams are hoping the Horned Frogs lose. If they do lose during the regular season, though, it won't be to the woeful Jayhawks. No. 8 Ohio State at Minnesota: The one-lo s Buckeyes are the Jason Cabinda Jersey Big Ten's only real playoff hope; still, they need some help to move up. Will they get it? Minnesota's upset hopes depend on TB David Cobb and the rushing attack being able to control the ball and the clock. Ohio State is 42-7 all-time against the Golden Gophers and have lost to Minnesota once since 1981. No. 6 Arizona State at Oregon State: It's a safe a sumption that if one-lo s Arizona Tracy Walker III Jersey State wins out (that would include a win over North Division champ Oregon in the Pac-12 title game), the Sun Devils would be in the playoff. Oregon State has lost four in a row and the Beavers' defense has disappeared. Arizona State should put up big numbers. No. 16 Nebraska at No. 20 Wisconsin: This, frankly, is more important in the Big Ten West Division title race than it is in the playoff race. The one-lo s Huskers have a ton of ground to make up. While they have just the one lo s, they're also just 16th in the selection committee poll. They obviously have to win out and get a ton of help to become a legit playoff contender. (Miami beating Florida State would help, as the Huskers beat the Hurricanes in Lincoln in September.) Two-lo s Wisconsin is out of the playoff hunt but definitely in the hunt for the West Division title.Mike Huguenin can be reached at [email protected]. You also can follow him on Twitter .