Last week there were so many scenarios that could have played out to determine the SEC West champion that it made your mind spin. Six of the seven teams, in a weird way, were all still alive.

This week, not so much.

We’re down to only two possible contenders now after Alabama knocked off Mississippi State 31-6. The Tide’s win on its own eliminated Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Arkansas. LSU’s loss to Arkansas later Saturday night eliminated the Tigers for good.

So all that’s left is Alabama and Ole Miss. It’s simple for the Crimson Tide, and they hold the upper hand with just the one conference loss. Two-loss Ole Miss has work to do – and needs some help.

Here’s all the remains of the race:

ALABAMA WILL WIN IF…

They just keep winning. All that’s left in the SEC for Alabama is a trip to Auburn for the Iron Bowl. If the Tide win, they are SEC West champions and will play Florida in the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta. This week’s warm-up with Charleston Southern has no bearing on the SEC race, of course.

So win at Auburn and you’re in. Sounds simple enough, but crazier things have happened on the Plains. Kick-Six, anyone? And if Auburn pulls the upset, then there’s one team still left with a chance, the Ole Miss Rebels.

OLE MISS WILL WIN IF…

The Rebels’ chances hang by a slim thread. First off, they need to take care of their own business and beat LSU in Oxford on Saturday and then go on the road and beat Mississippi State in the Egg Bowl the final week of the regular season.

Do all that, then root like crazy for Auburn to beat Alabama.

If all that plays out, both teams would finish 6-2 in the league and Ole Miss would win the tiebreaker based on its head-to-head win over the Crimson Tide back in September.

Arkansas and LSU each also have two SEC losses but neither can win any tiebreaker against Alabama if they tie because of head’s up losses.  It is possible that Alabama, LSU and Arkansas can all finish 6-2, but Alabama wins that three-way tie as well because of the head-to-head wins.

For Ole Miss, it’s possible that a three-way tie at 6-2 could involve the Rebels, Tide and Razorbacks. Having the Razorbacks join their tie with Alabama won’t matter because the Rebels still win the tiebreaker. Head to head, each would be 1-1 but Ole Miss would go to Atlanta based on its better record (5-1 over 4-2) in the division. Ole Miss’ first conference loss, remember, was to SEC East foe Florida.

Ole Miss has never been to Atlanta for the SEC title game. Chances are remote that they’ll do it this year, but at least there’s still a chance.