It’s comes as no surprise that this weekly SEC coaches rankings series will be West-dominated until the East proves its worth on the field. Ranking coaches based on their 2014 seasons to date, here’s a quick glance:

5. STEVE SPURRIER, South Carolina: Leave it to the Head Ball Coach to resuscitate the Gamecocks, a team left for dead nationally after a loss to Texas A&M and what many considered an underwhelming win over East Carolina (until the Pirates won at Virginia Tech). His first-half game plan against Georgia last weekend was top notch and vintage Spurrier, play-calls that hinged on confidence in his quarterback. A month from now, we may look back on South Carolina’s win over the Bulldogs and recognize it as a season-defining moment for the preseason East favorites.

4. GARY PINKEL, Mizzou: Is anyone talking about the Tigers? Not that they care, but it’s time to consider the defending division champions a legit repeat threat following a 3-0 start. Maty Mauk’s playing as well as any quarterback in the league right now and Mizzou’s 15-2 over its last 17 games. The Tigers’ defense line is among the SEC’s best and Marcus Murphy’s your prototypical ‘X-Factor’ with speed to burn in several areas. Pinkel’s post-game speech after last weekend’s win over a quality UCF team was inspiring and the Tigers once again have the luxury of flying under the radar it appears.

3. HUGH FREEZE, Ole Miss: In 2.5 years, Freeze has taken the Rebels from the cellar to the ceiling on the strength of an elite 2013 class and a veteran quarterback running the show. We’ll know just how far Ole Miss has come after hosting Alabama on Oct. 4, a gargantuan matchup that will establish the early hierarchy in the SEC West. Just the fact we’re talking about the Rebels as one of the nation’s Top 10 teams proves Freeze has worked his tail off after inheriting a program coming off a 10-loss season in 2011.

2. GUS MALZAHN, Auburn: The Tigers are sitting in the Top 5, minding their own business until Thursday’s national spotlight opportunity comes to fruition in Manhattan against Kansas State. The first of seven games this season against ranked teams, adversity — which is a good thing this time of year — could makes its way into the Auburn huddle if the Tigers fall behind by a touchdown early in the game. It could be a game for a half, but Malzahn’s relentless ground attack will eventually wear down the Wildcats and likely eclipse its 300-plus yard season average. Auburn’s averaging 52 points per game in two wins, but that number seems a bit too high to hit away from home against quality competition.

1. KEVIN SUMLIN, Texas A&M: South Carolina’s win over Georgia reflects on the SEC West’s overall strength as A&M, perceived as the division’s sixth-best team, was able to steamroll the other side’s favorite in the season opener. The Aggies have won two games by a convincing margin since to move up to No. 6 in the AP Poll. An injury to Speedy Noil isn’t what Sumlin’s squad needed heading into a matchup with Arkansas in two weeks, but this offense is loaded with wide receivers capable of picking up the slack. Kenny Hill’s TD:INT ratio (11 to 0) is tops in the country and has overshadowed a couple lingering problems on A&M’s defense.