Another week, another SEC playoff contender is gone. That’s the way it’s been this season, and it was no different this past Saturday. Texas A&M has dropped off the list after a humbling loss at home to Ole Miss. The Aggies have a chance to redeem themselves this weekend at Alabama, but time is running out.
Here’s a look at the remaining SEC contenders, including a new team at the top.
Mississippi State
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
AP rank: No. 1
Next big obstacle: Oct. 25 at Kentucky
Reason for optimism: After beating three straight top-10 teams and jumping last season’s BCS champion Florida State for the top spot in the polls, it’s good to be a Bulldog these days. They still have a couple of tough games ahead, but going 3-0 against LSU, Texas A&M and Auburn entering this Saturday’s open date was an impressive accomplishment.
Cause for concern: The defense is good, but it’s still prone to giving up chunks of yardage. The Bulldogs are 13th in the SEC in total defense (428.8 ypg) and last against the pass (308.3). State has controlled all three SEC games thus far, but it still needs to become more consistent defensively so Dak Prescott doesn’t have to carry the Bulldogs every game.
Who they’ll be rooting for this week: Tennessee over Ole Miss -- David Ching
Ole Miss
Record: 6-0 (3-0)
AP rank: No. 3
Next big obstacle: Oct. 25 at LSU
Reason for optimism: After beating No. 3 Alabama at home, the Rebels went on the road and dismantled Texas A&M in a game that wasn’t even close as its 35-20 score showed. The defense has allowed six touchdowns, yet has scored four of its own. In three SEC games, Bo Wallace has seven touchdowns and zero turnovers.
Cause for concern: The West is still tough, and the Rebels have to go on the road to play LSU and Arkansas, two teams that are better than their records indicate, and still have Auburn and Mississippi State on the schedule. The Rebels rank 12th in the SEC and 85th nationally in rushing (146.5 yards per game and just 3.9 yards per carry).
Who they’re rooting for this week: Texas A&M over Alabama -- Edward Aschoff
Auburn
Record: 5-1 (2-1)
AP rank: No. 6
Next big obstacle: Oct. 25 vs. South Carolina
Reason for optimism: Take away the two interceptions, and Nick Marshall actually played a decent game against Mississippi State. He threw for over 200 yards, rushed for over 100 yards and scored two touchdowns. The defense also did its part, forcing four turnovers and holding the Bulldogs to just 10 points in the second half.
Cause for concern: It starts with the turnovers. Auburn cannot turn the ball over four times and expect to beat a good team. But maybe more troubling was how much the Tigers struggled when they got in the red zone. They came in as one of the top red-zone offenses in the country, but on three straight trips in the second quarter, they managed just six points.
Who they’re rooting for this week: Texas A&M over Alabama. An Ole Miss loss would be nice, but Auburn will always root against its in-state rival. -- Greg Ostendorf
Alabama
Record: 5-1 (2-1 SEC)
AP rank: No. 7
Next big obstacle: Oct. 18 vs. Texas A&M
Reason for optimism: Alabama was fortunate to escape Arkansas with a win this past weekend, dodging a number of mistakes and turnovers to beat the Razorbacks by 1 point. Improvement is needed, but at 5-1, nothing is off the table for the Crimson Tide.
Cause for concern: It was bad enough to go on the road and lose at Ole Miss. But when Alabama followed that up with a lackluster performance at Arkansas, it signaled cause for concern. If the offense continues to stay in this current funk, the Tide are a very beatable football team.
Who they’ll be rooting for: Mississippi State did its job beating Auburn last weekend. Now Tennessee needs to find a way to knock off Ole Miss and trim the list of undefeated teams in the West to one. -- Alex Scarborough
Georgia
Record: 5-1 (3-1)
AP rank: No. 10
Next big obstacle: Oct. 18 at Arkansas (in Little Rock)
Reason for optimism: The defense has vastly improved as the season has gone on. Since giving up 401 yards and 32 points to Tennessee, the Bulldogs have allowed an average of 233.5 yards in the last two games and shut out Missouri on the road. The East is Georgia’s to lose. Yes, Kentucky is 2-1 in SEC play, but the Bulldogs have a chance to be favored in their remaining SEC games.
Cause for concern: Even though Nick Chubb had the game of his life against Mizzou, Todd Gurley is arguably the best player in the country, and not having him reduces Georgia’s chances of making it into the playoff. Chubb is good, but he isn’t Gurley and he currently doesn’t have anyone to really spare him like he did for Gurley.
Who they’re rooting for this week: Missouri over Florida -- Edward Aschoff