Like most of the top SEC teams, Texas A&M faces an uphill climb as it tries to cement a place in Atlanta in December. Coming off a deflating loss to No.10 Alabama, the Aggies have to quickly refocus if they want to rebound and make a push toward the Georgia Dome.

The next month poses two major challenges beginning this weekend with a showdown in Oxford.

MOST IMPORTANT GAME

Ole Miss on Oct. 24 in Oxford. Upon quick glance, casual fans may skip over this game and look toward the matchup with LSU in late November as the biggest test for the Aggies. If the Aggies don’t beat Ole Miss on the road this weekend, that game will likely be irrelevant in deciding whether Texas A&M can squeak into the SEC Championship. This is a do-or-die game, plain and simple.

The Rebels will be scratching and clawing after being embarassed by Memphis a week ago. Knocking off Ole Miss won’t mean the Aggies are a lock for Atlanta by any means, but it will surely keep them in contention.

POTENTIAL LET-DOWN

● South Carolina on Halloween. Texas A&M has a legitmate shot to get past Ole Miss this weekend, and if/when they do, they will have a noon kickoff on Halloween against a Gamecocks team playing with a ton of emotion in wake of Steve Spurrier’s departure and the floods that ravaged the state. This has trap game written all over it.

● LSU on Nov. 28. If the Aggies can get past Ole Miss this weekend, they have a decent shot to win out until they travel to Death Valley to close out the season. If LSU knocks off Alabama, Texas A&M will win the tiebreaker by beating the Tigers. If they make it this far, this game will be laced with drama and suspense.

X-FACTOR

Kyle Allen. If Kyle Allen plays well, the Aggies win. When he doesn’t, they struggle. Last week against Alabama, Allen threw threw three pick-6s, which is clearly not a formula for winning. When Allen has a solid outing, his teammates always seem to respond. Until last Saturday, the sophomore only had two interceptions on the season and averaged two or more touchdowns per game.

The season rests on the hands of the young QB. This weekend’s matchup will surely be entertaining as the Ole Miss defense only gives up 22.1 points per game and averages two turnovers per contest.

REMAINING SCHEDULE

● Texas A&M at No. 24 Ole Miss on Oct. 24
● Texas A&M vs. South Carolina on Oct. 31
● Texas A&M vs. Auburn on Nov. 7
● Texas A&M vs. W. Carolina on Nov. 14
● Texas A&M at Vanderbilt on Nov. 21
● Texas A&M at LSU on Nov. 28