Can the SEC West survive itself?

At some point this fall, every team in the division will make their way into the Top 25 before picking each other off one by one. We saw it happen last season when Mississippi State and Ole Miss sat atop the college football world before being humbled down the stretch.

That’s what happens in a division filled with some of the nation’s best coaches and players.

Projecting every must-win game in the Western Division this fall, here are the most important …

RELATED: Biggest must-win games for every SEC East team

Alabama (must-win Sept. 19 vs. Ole Miss)

The Iron Bowl’s an obvious choice here since the winner of that game has went on to win the division three consecutive seasons, but Alabama’s league opener against Ole Miss is almost equally important. Some will disagree and point to last season’s loss to the Rebels as an example — a game, as it turned out, that didn’t squander the season. But the Crimson Tide didn’t have to travel to Athens two weeks later, either. Alabama’s first two SEC games present an obvious challenge against nationally-ranked teams and winning the more favorable matchup at home must happen to keep a Playoff berth within reach.

Arkansas (must-win Oct. 3 at Tennessee)

Facing a brutal schedule, you could pick any SEC contest down the stretch in November as a must-win as far as division title hopes are concerned, but unless the Razorbacks exit October alive, those games won’t hold as much value. Before Arkansas takes on Auburn and Alabama with a bye week separating the two sizable matchups, Bret Bielema’s team travels to Knoxville on Oct. 3. There’s a good chance Arkansas will be 4-0 and ranked inside the Top 10 at this junction with a great opportunity to start 2-0 in SEC play heading into the pivotal second half. Beat the Vols and the Razorbacks jump into the Western Division favorite conversation.

Auburn (must-win Oct. 24 at Arkansas)

One of three SEC road games that could come down to the wire this season for the Tigers, finding a way to turn back Arkansas prior to a Halloween showdown with Ole Miss is one of Auburn’s main priorities this season. If the Tigers navigate through games against LSU and Mississippi State unscathed in September, they’ll likely be one of a handful of remaining Top 5 unbeatens with a sizable target on their backs rolling into Fayetteville. You hear the term ‘swing-game’ mentioned often during SEC play and this is one of them.

LSU (must-win Oct. 10 at South Carolina)

It goes without saying that LSU must finish 2-0 against Eastern Division competition this season to have any shot at reaching the SEC Championship Game. Would it be so crazy of an upset pick to think the Gamecocks could upend the Tigers inside Williams-Brice Stadium? LSU’s won 17 of 20 all-time meetings against South Carolina, but Steve Spurrier’s squad has proven to be one of the SEC’s best at home since winning their only division title in program history in 2010. We’re projecting LSU to come into this one 1-1 in league play, meaning a second loss before Nov. 1 would seal this team’s fate as far as a division title shot is concerned.

Mississippi (must-win Oct. 3 at Florida)

Much like LSU’s necessity to win both games against its cross-divisional competition this fall, the Rebels must do the same since there’s little margin for error within college football’s toughest division. Another potential upset matchup, this team’s trip to Gainesville in October will be billed as Jim McElwain’s biggest (up to that point) in his first season as Florida’s new coach and the Rebels will be trying to avoid a 1-2 start before the five-game Western Division gauntlet concludes the regular season a few weeks later. While Mississippi’s cross-divisional games are favorable (Vandy’s the other) compared to others, this one won’t be as easy as it looks on paper from a talent perspective.

Mississippi State (must-win Oct. 3 at Texas A&M)

Not to be the bearer of bad news, but the Bulldogs could be staring at a devastating 0-3 start in conference play if they don’t find a way to win at Kyle Field on Oct. 3. Mississippi State comes out of the gate to battle LSU and Auburn in September, two teams Dan Mullen’s team beat last season during a historic rise to No. 1. Will it happen again? Probably not if you’ve purchased stock in the narrative that the Bulldogs will take a few steps back defensively. In what I would expect to be one of the SEC’s most enjoyable games to watch this fall with a ton of big plays, the last team with the ball likely wins this one.

Texas A&M (must-win Oct. 31 vs. South Carolina)

In a game that could decide the difference between a seven or eight-win regular season for the Aggies, I doubt Texas A&M will welcome the Gamecocks in their first trip to College Station kindly. During last year’s blowout win over South Carolina in the season opener, the Aggies found a recipe that obliterated the Gamecocks’ defense and with that, the nation’s longest home winning streak. Western Division landmines surround this matchup for the Aggies, making this one a must-win during the second half of the season.