This is the second week in a row where Auburn has had a statement game to let the rest of the SEC know that it is here to stay.

Following a 51-14 beatdown of the Tigers from the SEC East, Auburn kept things going in Week 5 with a 49-10 victory over the Bulldogs of the West.

While starting running back Kamryn Pettway still is not full strength, he took the field for the first time since Week 3, making the Mississippi State game the first time that both he and fellow RB Kerryon Johnson have played in the same game this season.

The Tigers will certainly need their 1-2 punch at running back to be fully healthy if they want to give themselves the best chance at beating Alabama come Nov. 25.

Alabama has outscored its opponents 231-43; Auburn has outpaced its foes 171-55.

Like Auburn, the Crimson Tide also had their second consecutive statement game in Week 5 against a team from Mississippi, crushing the Rebels 66-3 in Tuscaloosa. Over the past two weeks, Alabama has outscored its opponents 125-3.

Yes, Alabama will be a tough test in the final week of the regular season, but Auburn is starting to prove that it is complete enough to knock off last year’s runner-up in the national championship. The Crimson Tide will not have seen a team with the ability to hang with them both offensive and defensively like they will when they roll into Jordan-Hare Stadium.

The Tigers have finally developed some balance on offense in 2017 after being one-dimensional last season. In fact, they are the only offense in the SEC that has run (1,042) and thrown (1,113) for more than 1,000 yards so far this season.

That balance could be the difference in the Iron Bowl. Well, that and having the conference’s No. 3 defense, which is the only defense left in the FBS to hold each of its opponents to 14 or fewer points.

Alabama’s offensive line has come on strong with the emergence of Lester Cotton and Matt Womack, the respective starters on the right side, but the Tide’s offensive line will still face a tough test trying to prevent Marlon Davidson, Jeff Holland, Derrick Brown and Nick Coe from making any sort of impact.

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Another key difference in the game could be on special teams. Alabama’s special teams, from top to bottom, are better than Auburn’s, but the Tigers have a significant advantage in the kicking game.

If the Iron Bowl came down to Daniel Carlson’s leg, Auburn fans would feel extremely confident in their chances. Would Alabama fans feel the same way if it was to fall on Andy Pappanastos’ leg?

Either way, this year’s showdown between Auburn and Alabama is starting to look more and more enticing. It’s entirely possible that whoever wins that game will represent the SEC in the College Football Playoff. Well, if the West winner can beat the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game, that is.

Stock up

1. Jarrett Stidham, QB: This was by far Stidham’s best performance of the season. The sophomore finished 13-of-16 (81.3 percent) for 264 yards and two touchdowns against a Mississippi State defense that has shown much improvement.

He was named SEC co-offensive player of the week with Georgia RB Nick Chubb.

2. Austin Golson, OL: Golson’s versatility has been a key component to Auburn’s success on offense. The former Ole Miss transfer has started at center, right tackle and now left tackle this season.

Like with Stidham, the game against Mississippi State was the offensive line’s best performance so far this season.

3. Nick Coe, DE: The Mississippi State game might have been a small coming out party for Coe, who finished with six tackles, four quarterback hurries and half a tackle for loss.

The hurries stat is the key one, as Coe is now second on the team in that category behind Buck linebacker Jeff Holland (10).

Stock down

1. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT: Tigers coach Gus Malzahn switched things up on the offensive line on Saturday, and that left the converted defensive lineman on the bench.

The raw tools are there for Wanogho to eventually develop into a premier offensive tackle, but he’s clearly not ready.

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2. Tre’ Williams, LB: This was the second consecutive week that the Auburn defense was without its best linebacker, but that didn’t seem to have much of an impact on the performance.

Williams needs to get back on the field as quickly as possible.

3. Daniel Carlson, K: Everyone calm down. Carlson is still one of the best kickers, if not the best, in college football. The fact that he misses so infrequently is exactly what landed him on this list.

He missed his lone field goal attempt against State, but made all seven of his extra-point attempts.

That miss should be an outlier.