Each week, we’ll take a look at the credible and not-so-credible threats to the SEC’s playoff aspirations, based on the now-retired Homeland Security Advisory System. (Here’s a longer explanation.)

This weekend’s main casualties: Kansas State, Clemson and Missouri.

There are nine unbeaten non-SEC teams in the Associated Press Top 25. Other than the chasm between the SEC East and SEC West becoming more evident, the most important outcome of yesterday’s games was that every major playoff threat dodged bullets, some of which were considerable.

The rest of the season represents a giant game of dodgeball for some of the SEC’s challengers. While there aren’t any games featuring ranked teams Saturday, the rigorous Pac-12 schedule will begin to thin that conference, starting with Thursday night’s game between No. 11 UCLA (3-0) and No. 15 Arizona State (3-0, 1-0).

In the ACC and Big 12, a trio of playoff contenders will navigate the rest of the season affixed with giant targets, while the wounded Big Ten is doing its best to get off the gurney and play catch-up.

RELATED: Kirk Herbstreit includes one SEC team in top four

Scanning The Good Guys: Auburn’s closer-than-it-ended escape in Manhattan, Kan., Alabama’s second-half dominance against Florida, South Carolina’s third consecutive win and Georgia’s historic dominance against Troy kept all four teams in play nationally. Meanwhile, LSU plunged at home against Mississippi State and Missouri voluntarily withdrew after a home loss to Indiana.

Despite not playing, Ole Miss became the de facto fourth team in the SEC West with LSU’s loss. Every week it looks like the winner survivor of the SEC West will get a College Football Playoff berth by default.

Now for the terrorists.

THREAT LEVEL: SEVERE

Severe risk of terrorist attacks.

Oklahoma: The Sooners (4-0, 1-0) controlled a pesky West Virginia on the road even though Clint Trickett may have outplayed Trevor Knight. Oklahoma was at least as impressive against WVU as Alabama was earlier this season. OU rode its strong running game despite the absence of starting back Keith Ford (ankle). There will be other competitive games before the Nov. 8 showdown with Baylor, but so far this team looks more equipped to keep the boat skimming through choppy waters than any other top contender.

Oregon: On the road, the Ducks (4-0, 1-0) allowed a bad Washington State team to hang around all game. Cougars quarterback Connor Halliday and coach Mike Leach only threw 63 times (or 26 fewer passes than WSU attempted against Oregon in ’13), but the imbalanced offense nearly matched the nation’s No. 2 team. The Ducks stay here mainly because of Marcus Mariota, who looks like the leading candidate to win the Heisman Trophy. Mariota completed 21 of 25 passes for 329 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for an additional 58 yards.

THREAT LEVEL: HIGH

High risk of terrorist attacks.

Florida State: The nation’s No. 1 team and defending national champions beat a ranked divisional rival in overtime despite defending Heisman winner Jameis Winston missing the entire game due to suspension. FSU remains outside the most pressing threat level category and will do so unless and until it resembles last year’s dominant defense and free-wheeling offense. The Seminoles (3-0, 1-0) have endured two one-possession wins and a less-than-stunning win against an FCS opponent. Not comforting for a team that still has potential trip wires in Notre Dame, Louisville and the ACC Championship, but a loss to Clemson would’ve put FSU in danger of losing the ACC’s Atlantic Division.

Baylor/Notre Dame: Off this weekend, the Bears (3-0) still haven’t faced any legitimate competition, and won’t next week at Iowa State. Meanwhile, Bryce Petty’s back can only be getting better. The Irish (3-0) also didn’t play Saturday and are in a similar situation with a strong quarterback in Everett Golson and Syracuse on deck.

THREAT LEVEL: ELEVATED

Significant risk of terrorist attacks.

Nebraska: A season ago, the Cornhuskers got harvested by an up-and-coming UCLA, firing up the pressure cooker for coach Bo Pelini. Miami admittedly isn’t a Top 25 program right now, but this year’s version of that game ended when Ameer Abdullah (35 carries, 229 yards) scored to put Nebraska up 41-24 late in the fourth quarter. The Cornhuskers (4-0) will start to get some buzz after chomping Illinois next week.

BYU: The Cougars (4-0) must keep winning while hoping for power conference Armageddon. Connecticut, Texas, Houston and Virginia look better as a collection of wins than individually. Taysom Hill and his teammates get next weekend off before an interesting quarterback matchup with Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton in two weeks.

THREAT LEVEL: GUARDED

General risk of terrorist attacks.

Michigan State: Just like that, the Spartans (2-1) are a Top 10 team with a few decent opportunities to impress the selection committee. As long as Nebraska and Penn State keep winning, Michigan State could have four respected opponents left, including Ohio State and the Big Ten Championship. They should dispatch Wyoming next week to set up a nationally-visible game against the Cornhuskers.

Wisconsin: The Badgers (2-1) haven’t recovered as gracefully, thanks to a morbid quarterback situation that cost the team a win against LSU early in the season. But South Florida, Northwestern and Illinois aren’t exactly storm clouds on the horizon. Melvin Gordon returned from a six-quarter downgrade to hang 253 yards and five touchdowns on Bowling Green. It’s not hard to picture this team at 8-1 when it hosts Nebraska on Nov. 15.

THREAT LEVEL: LOW

Low risk of terrorist attacks.

Michigan: Speaking of the Big Ten, Brady Hoke is in a race to get fired before Will Muschamp. The Wolverines lost to Utah, 26-10, after getting forced to endure a lightning delay of nearly two-and-a-half hours halfway through the fourth quarter. It’s inconceivable that Michigan (2-2) could beat a ranked opponent at this point. So go ahead and set 8-4 as the absolute, unlikely ceiling. The basement? Florida ’13. Go ahead and shudder, Wolverines fans.

Louisiana-Lafayette: The Rajin’ Cajuns, predicted to win the Sun Belt with one of the country’s most respected coaches and senior quarterback Terrance Broadway, have lost three consecutive games by an average score of 46-15. The offense, which managed 15 points at a Top 10 Ole Miss team, couldn’t muster 10 against Boise State. Louisiana-Lafayette (1-3) may be the happiest team in America to start conference play.

SMU/Troy: Why go through this alone? Both programs were among the best small-conference FBS programs just a few seasons ago. Now they’re among the worst. They lost by a combined 124-6 this weekend to Texas A&M and Georgia, with the Mustangs managing two field goals at home. SMU coach June Jones already resigned, and expect Larry Blakeney to step down before the start of next season at Troy.

UNLV: SMU may have the nation’s worst offense, but the Rebels have a strong case on defense. Other than a 13-12 win against Big Sky member Northern Colorado, UNLV (1-3) has allowed 58, 48 and 47 points. Oh, and the team ranks 127th out of 128 in total defense, just ahead of Bowling Green, which has the excuse of facing Indiana and Wisconsin the last two weeks (and the Falcons actually beat the Hoosiers, something Missouri failed to do).