Each week, we’ll take a look at the credible and not-so-credible threats to rain on the SEC’s playoff aspirations.

We’re through Week 5, and the highest-ranked SEC team in the AP Poll is No. 7 LSU.  However, there is a team from the league that has a vote for No. 1, and that’s No. 9 Texas A&M.

Speaking of those two teams, who would’ve thought before the season that the only unbeaten SEC teams through Week 5 would be LSU, Texas A&M and Florida?

As of right now, the top 25 may look a little strange. The top four spots are being occupied by two conferences, the Big Ten and Big 12. Meanwhile, Oregon and Wisconsin aren’t even ranked. And yes, that is Toledo down there at No. 24.

No team is looking dominant right now, so we can’t comfortably say anything in terms of the College Football Playoff, but we can try.

Scanning The Good Guys: You have to start paying attention to Texas A&M and Florida at this point. These two schools have emerged as serious contenders in their respective divisions. The Aggies handled Mississippi State from start to finish, and the Gators’ game against Ole Miss was finished before it started. Alabama reverted to its old, smashmouth self in its 38-10 win over Georgia on the road and still looks like a contender. As for LSU, a second straight disappointing performance against a team it was supposed to have an easy time with is cause for concern. Still, while the Tigers are showing chinks in their armor, Leonard Fournette certainly isn’t.

Now for the bad guys.

THREAT LEVEL: TSUNAMI

Severe risk of rain

Ohio State: The Buckeyes are pulling a Florida State from last season. They’re a defending champ that’s obviously playing down to their competition. There’s no excuse for a team that’s as talented and well-coached as Ohio State to beat Northern Illinois and Purdue by one touchdown. Still, the Buckeyes have an easy road, and they’ll get enough respect from the CFP committee no matter how they look as long as they run the table. And they’re playing like they’re aware of that.

TCU/Baylor: I lump these teams into the same category because neither has been tested despite proving that they’re going to light up the scoreboard, and both teams have taken turns beating up on Texas Tech and SMU. The marquee matchups for these teams are towards the end of the season, and that will work in the Big 12’s favor this season unlike when TCU’s lasting impression to end last season was a 55-3 “well, you were supposed to do that” win over Iowa State. The other thing working in these teams’ favor is the pressure the CFP committee will face in leaving the Big 12 out of the playoff for a second straight season.

Utah: What a week if you’re a Utes fan, right? The team didn’t even play a game, yet rose from No. 10 to No. 5 in the AP Poll. A bye week doesn’t really get any better than that. Remember when I said no team is looking dominant? Well, other than Baylor, which has won by a comfortable margin against all of its opponents, Utah is maybe the next-best candidate if you had to label a team “dominant.” The only nail-biter for Utah so far was in the season-opening 24-17 win over Michigan. The Utes seem like the team to beat in the Pac-12, but the way things are going in that conference this season, they’ll lose by 30 to No. 23 California this Saturday.

Michigan State: The Spartans dropped from No. 2 to No. 4 in the AP Poll. They’re now the only team in the top five without any first-place votes. Still, Michigan State had to hold off Purdue in a scary 24-21 escape, and it hasn’t really had a dominant win yet. They’re in risk of dropping to Hurricane status.

THREAT LEVEL: HURRICANE

High risk of rain

Oklahoma: Samaje Perine has had a very disappointing season, only putting up one 100-yard rushing game so far this season. However, Baker Mayfield is turning some heads as he’s thrown at least three touchdowns in every game. Mayfield is responsible for 17 touchdowns this season, which ranks fourth in the FBS. Of course, all three of those QBs are from the Big 12 (Seth Russell, 22; Trevone Boykin, 21; Patrick Mahomes, 20). The Sooners will have a shot to push past TCU or Big 12 at the end of the season to represent the conference in the playoff.

Clemson: The Tigers are here after a 24-22 win over No. 6 Notre Dame, even though it led 24-9 and let the Irish back in the game. That’s because it’s still a win over a top 10 team during a week in which No. 3 Ole Miss, No. 7 UCLA and No. 8 Georgia were all dominated. Meanwhile, the top two teams in the country (No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan State) were nearly taken down by bad competition. At the moment, Clemson looks like the ACC’s best product.

THREAT LEVEL: THUNDERSTORM

Significant risk of rain

Florida State: That leads us to the Seminoles. By the way, think of all the Gator fans that are bragging to Seminoles fans about being ranked one spot ahead of FSU right now. Florida State is looking very shaky right now with a sloppy 14-0 win over Boston College and a 24-16 win over Wake Forest. Still, it’s a good bet to think the ‘Noles will be favored in every game the rest of the way with the exception of a couple road games at Georgia Tech on Oct. 24 and at Clemson on Nov. 7.

Stanford/USC: No. 17 USC suffered its only loss of the season a couple weeks ago to No. 16 Stanford, which has looked better and better every week since suffering a season-opening loss to not-so-shabby No. 13 Northwestern, which is undefeated. It’s worth noting that Stanford’s 55-17 blowout of Arizona with QB Anu Solomon and defensive stud Scooby Wright III out. The talented Trojans will let the Pac-12 do its weekly thing of destroying itself as it enjoys a bye this week, while Stanford hosts No. 20 UCLA.

THREAT LEVEL: DRIZZLE

General risk of rain

Michigan: A lot has changed for Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines since their season-opening loss to Utah. First of all, Big Blue only lost by a touchdown. Second of all, Utah has gone on to look very strong. Third of all, Michigan has also looked pretty strong. The Wolverines have won their last four games in convincing fashion by a combined score of 122-14. We’ll figure out exactly how good Michigan is over the next two weeks when it faces No. 13 Northwestern and No. 4 Michigan State, both in the Big House.

California: Don’t look now, but Cal is the only other Pac-12 team other than Utah that’s still undefeated. But it’s cup-check time for the Golden Bears as the rest of their schedule won’t be easy: at No. 5 Utah, at No. 20 UCLA, vs. 17 USC, at Oregon, vs. Oregon State, at No. 16 Stanford, vs. Arizona State.

THREAT LEVEL: CLOUDY

Low risk of rain

Toledo: Needless to say, the Rockets aren’t ranked that often. Toledo entered the polls at No. 24 this week, just the second time the school has been ranked since 2002. The other time came in 2012, when it was ranked No. 23 for one week in November. Give Toledo credit because it’s beaten two Power 5 teams so far this season in Arkansas and Iowa State, but not even a Rockets fan would tell you that there’s a chance for two Ohio teams in this year’s playoff.

Kansas: The Jayhawks are in danger of being relegated. Oh wait, this isn’t soccer. Well, if it was, Kansas would be. It’s the only Power 5 school without a win so far this season (0-4). This week, Kansas faces No. 3 Baylor. The over/under for that game may be 100, and the Bears might do all the scoring.

Wyoming: The Cowboys are 0-5, having lost by double digits in every game this season. By the way, those losses have to come to North Dakota, Eastern Michigan, Washington State, New Mexico and Appalachian State. The Cowboys might make the postseason, but not college football’s version of the Cowboys.