Teams can’t win the SEC West title in September, but they can certainly lose it.

That’s the challenge facing both Mississippi State and Auburn as they prepare to meet on Saturday night at Jordan-Hare Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).

Both teams dropped their respective conference openers, and both were to LSU in back-to-back weeks. A second league loss would be difficult to overcome, a fact not lost on Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen.

“Both of us are coming off a loss in conference,” he said. “You don’t want to fall that far behind. So we both, in conference play, (have our) back against the wall.”

After falling 21-19 to LSU in Week 2, the Bulldogs bounced back with a 62-13 thumping of Northwestern State last week. Meanwhile, Auburn suffered a 45-21 defeat to LSU last week and replaced starting quarterback Jeremy Johnson with redshirt freshman Sean White.

While the Tigers have had a bit more turmoil to start their season, both teams enter the contest very much in need of a win.

Here are the five players to watch as Mississippi State tries to keep its SEC West title dreams alive:

1. QB Dak Prescott — The senior had an easy time of it last week, going 10 for 11 with 227 yards and two touchdowns in two quarters of work. Last season against Auburn, Prescott accounted for 367 yards of total offense — including 121 on the ground — and three touchdowns as the Bulldogs rose to No. 1 in the polls with a 38-23 win.

Auburn is 100th nationally in total defense and tied for 123rd against the run, so barring a complete reversal from the Tiger defense, Prescott should have some room to operate through the air and on the ground.

2. RB Ashton Shumpert — He won’t be the only Bulldog to take a hand-off in this game, but the junior will likely get the first few cracks at what’s been a leaky Auburn defense so far this season.

The Tigers are allowing 270 yards on the ground per game in 2015, thanks in large part to the 411 yards that Leonard Fournette and LSU rolled up last week. So, this looks like a good week for Shumpert — or perhaps even Brandon Holloway, Dontavian Lee or Aeris Williams — to do a little damage through the running game.

3. DE A.J. Jefferson — Anytime a team faces a quarterback that’s never taken a college snap, getting pressure on him early and often becomes even more important than usual. Jefferson leads the Bulldogs with 2.5 sacks, and the junior and his defensive line mates will be going up against an Auburn offensive line that’s allowed five sacks in three games so far this season.

Seven other Bulldogs have recorded at least half a sack this season, so introducing White to the SEC may be more of a group effort.

4. CB Taveze Calhoun — The senior corner had a team-high six tackles in last year’s game and should have a key role to play this time around, too.

Auburn’s D’haquille Williams has gotten off to a slow start this season with only seven catches so far this season. But he had six grabs for 108 yards and two touchdowns in last year’s meeting, so Calhoun and the Mississippi State secondary will want to keep him quiet if possible.

5. K Westin Graves — The sophomore is a perfect 4 of 4 on field goals and hasn’t missed any of his 11 extra-point tries, either. Mullen has entrusted Graves with kicks from 42 yards and in, and if drives that go deep into Auburn territory can’t result in touchdowns, it would be helpful if Graves continues his early season accuracy.