As the 2016 progresses, many teams continue to fall out of contention for conference championships. The SEC is no exception, according to David Ching of ESPN.com.

In a column released Monday, Ching pointed out that the list of potential threats to Alabama’s reign as conference champion continues to shorten with each passing week.

With LSU dropping its second loss, head coach Les Miles and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron this weekend, the preseason favorite to challenge the Tide in the SEC West is likely eliminated from an SEC Championship Game appearance.

Here’s an excerpt from Ching’s column:

Saturday’s 18-13 upset loss at Auburn was the last straw for Miles, whose program opened the season as a popular pick to reach the College Football Playoff only to drop two of its first four games. And even if interim coach Ed Orgeron leads the Tigers onto more stable footing, it’s difficult to envision LSU challenging Alabama as the SEC’s alpha program this season.

Maybe nobody will.

Ching also credits Texas A&M and Tennessee for winning big games and solidifying themselves as arguably the next best teams in the conference. However, both will face Alabama in the next three weeks, as will Arkansas, who was defeated by the Aggies on Saturday.

You can read his full column at ESPN here.