SEC West Update: Clarity among the top tier

The SEC West division picture continues to gain clarity as LSU and company go through the challenging stretch of SEC games in the heart of the season.

LSU improved to 4-1 in conference play with a win over Auburn, successfully putting a cap on a five-game SEC stretch with four wins and electrifying the home crowd in Death Valley with a 48-point outing. Jayden Daniels continues to show out alongside an electric receiving corps, while the defense takes incremental steps forward every week.

Here, we’re taking a look at the SEC West as a whole, where LSU stands, and what’s left for the Tigers entering the final six weeks of the regular season.

Alabama

SEC Record: 4-0

W Ole Miss, W Mississippi State, W Texas A&M, W Arkansas

Next up: Tennessee

It was another tight win for Alabama who beat Arkansas 24-21 on Saturday as the offense hit a wall after taking a 24-6 lead midway through the third quarter. Jalen Milroe was under 50 percent passing, while the defense struggled to contain KJ Jefferson in the second half. With Tennessee and LSU at home for its next two games, this is the stretch that can decide Alabama’s season. 

LSU

SEC Record: 4-1

W Mississippi State, W Arkansas, L Ole Miss, W Missouri, W Auburn

Next up: Army

It was an important blowout win for LSU over Auburn and it further showed how dominant this offense is as it heads into the final three SEC games of the season after facing Army and then having a bye week before meeting Alabama to start November. LSU’s the only team to have played five SEC games already and now can focus on its final three SEC games against Alabama, Florida and Texas A&M.

Ole Miss

SEC Record: 2-1

L Alabama, W LSU, W Arkansas

Next up: @ Auburn

It was a bye week for Ole Miss and now the Rebels enter a stretch of @ Auburn, Vanderbilt, Texas A&M, and @ Georgia the next four weeks which will show us what Ole Miss is capable of.

Texas A&M

SEC Record: 2-2

W Auburn, W Arkansas, L Alabama, L Tennessee

Next up: South Carolina

On the road against Tennessee, Texas A&M’s offense was unable to step up with Max Johnson at the helm. Tennessee quarterback Joe Milton passed for only 100 yards in the win over A&M. The Aggies needed the win to stay in contention in the West and keep hope alive. Instead, it’s down to 2-2 with road games at Ole Miss and at LSU still on the schedule. 

Arkansas

SEC Record: 0-4

L LSU, L Texas A&M, L Ole Miss, L Alabama

Next up: Mississippi State

Arkansas hung with Alabama, nearly completing the comeback, but there’s no more room for moral victories for Sam Pittman’s team. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, the schedule gets significantly easier with Mississippi State @ Florida, and Auburn as the next three games.

Auburn

SEC Record: 0-3

L Texas A&M, L Georgia, L LSU

Next up: Ole Miss

Auburn got rocked in Death Valley this week as the offense continued to struggle through the air. The defense was unable to slow down LSU and the result was a 30-point loss. Ole Miss at home is the next challenge for Hugh Freeze’s team and a game that feels important for Auburn to find its footing in conference.

Mississippi State

SEC Record: 0-3

L LSU, L South Carolina, L Alabama

Next up: @ Arkansas

It was a bye week for Mississippi State coming off of the win over Western Michigan. The Bulldogs seem a step behind the rest of the conference, but this week’s game against Arkansas is an opportunity to get the biggest win of the season.

LSU’s remaining schedule

Army

BYE

@ Alabama

Florida

Georgia State

Texas A&M

It’s a unique set up where LSU has already gotten through the meat of its schedule. Now, the Tigers enter the final six weeks of the season with only three SEC games and one road game. All eyes turn towards that road game at Alabama on Nov. 4, but Florida and Texas A&M aren’t walkover games at home either. Still, everything sets up for LSU to be rested and ready for these final three SEC games after going through a stretch of five straight SEC games.

When it comes to the division, it’s now LSU and Alabama as the two top dogs. Ole Miss will likely not run the table, and therefore the winner of LSU vs. Alabama in three weeks will decide the SEC West champion once again. Despite the loss to Ole Miss, LSU’s goals are still in front of it and with the way the Tigers are playing, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that an SEC title is still in the picture.