When we looked at the easiest road schedules in the SEC this season, my choice at No. 1 was the Florida Gators.

After all, they didn’t have to travel to Athens to face Georgia and don’t face SEC West powerhouses Alabama, Auburn or Ole Miss.

So let’s flip the script and rank the five toughest road schedules for SEC teams. Remember, we’re counting only true road games. And to no surprise, it’s all SEC West teams.

5. MISSISSIPPI STATE

Schedule: Sept. 5 at Southern Miss, Sept. 26 at Auburn, Oct. 3 at Texas A&M, Nov. 5 at Missouri, Nov. 21 at Arkansas.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 37-28 (.569)

Overview: Forget about that opener at Brett Favre’s alma mater. Southern Miss is one of the nation’s worst programs right now and Mississippi State is a 23.5-point favorite. The good news: ahead of that Auburn game is a glorified scrimmage for the Bulldogs at home against Northwestern State. So they can essentially plan for Auburn all for several weeks, probably while resting some of the starters in the second half. MSU beat No. 2 Auburn, 38-23, last year in Starkville. The Bulldogs beat No. 6 Texas A&M, 48-31. But clearly Auburn and A&M were overrated back then. Mississippi State hosts three straight games, all of which it should win, ahead of the trip to Missouri on a Thursday. I doubt MSU has much left in the tank for Arkansas, as that follows a home game vs. Alabama.

4. LSU

Schedule: Sept. 12 at Mississippi State, Sept. 26 at Syracuse, Oct. 10 at South Carolina, Nov. 7 at Alabama, Nov. 21 at Ole Miss.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 41-24 (.631)

Overview: LSU opens with a home game vs. McNeese State, so that will be a nice practice ahead of Mississippi State to open SEC play. The Tigers lost 34-29 to the Bulldogs in Baton Rouge last year. LSU’s game against Syracuse will be just the third meeting between the teams and the first since the 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl in Tampa. Another “scrimmage” for LSU vs. Eastern Michigan precedes South Carolina. The Tigers will be underdogs at Alabama and Ole Miss, although they beat the Rebels, 10-7, in 2014.

3. ALABAMA

Schedule: Oct. 3 at Georgia, Oct. 17 at Texas A&M, Nov. 14 at Mississippi State, Nov. 28 at Auburn.

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 36-16 (.692)

Overview: I didn’t list the opener against Wisconsin in Arlington, as that’s not a true road game, and I expect the crowd at about 80 percent Tide fans. On the bright side, among their four conference road games, Bama gets what many think are the two worst SEC West teams this season in Texas A&M and Mississippi State. But that’s evened out by traveling to East Division favorite Georgia and maybe the best team in the SEC in Auburn for the Iron Bowl.

2. ARKANSAS

Schedule: Oct. 3 at Tennessee, Oct. 10 at Alabama, Nov. 7 at Ole Miss, Nov. 14 at LSU

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 36-15 (.706)

Overview: The Razorbacks should be 4-0 when they enter that Tennessee game; Arkansas does have a neutral-site game in Arlington the week before against Texas A&M. Arkansas has beaten Tennessee just four times overall and hasn’t been to Knoxville since 2007. I know the Razorbacks are eager to face Alabama because they probably deserved to beat the Tide in 2014 (but lost 14-13). Ole Miss will have revenge on its mind after getting blasted 30-0 by the Hogs last year. Ditto LSU, which Arkansas beat 17-0.

1. OLE MISS

Schedule: Sept. 19 at Alabama, Oct. 3 at Florida, Oct. 17 at Memphis, Oct. 31 at Auburn, Nov. 28 at Mississippi State

Opponents’ combined 2014 record: 47-18 (.723)

Overview: This is easy because Ole Miss has to travel to both Alabama and Auburn. It’s almost a shame, as this likely represents the most talented Rebels team in years. Ole Miss just isn’t going to win both of those games on the road, right? The Rebels did beat the No. 3 Tide, 23-17, in Oxford last year for Alabama’s only regular-season loss. Think Nick Saban will use that as motivation? Florida can only be better this season, while Mississippi State has the conference’s best returning QB and, well, it’s the Egg Bowl. Don’t overlook Memphis, which was one of the nation’s most improved teams last year at 10-3. The Tigers did lose 24-3 at Ole Miss, however.