When will the SEC East get some love?

The division’s going to have to earn it.

A 5-0 record during bowl season was a good start, but that was then and this is now as far as national respect is concerned. Georgia’s win over Auburn last November stood on its own as a signature win as did Mizzou’s victory at Kyle Field, but the rest of the division fell flat against big-time West foes.

All of this year’s high-quality matchups have a single common denominator — the SEC East’s best shots at respect at come at home.

Top 5 SEC East ‘back to prominence’ games in 2015

5. Auburn at Kentucky

Poll-rattling Thursday night upsets happen every year in college football and this would be one of the biggest if the Wildcats could make it happen inside new Commonwealth Stadium. Both teams will be coming off a bye heading in and Auburn will likely boast a Top 10 ranking if the Tigers can navigate through the first five weeks unbeaten.

4. Ole Miss at Florida

Oddsmakers already consider this one a tight game in Gainesville, perhaps Jim McElwain’s coming out party as Florida’s new head coach. Eight of the Rebels’ 13 SEC losses over the last three seasons under Hugh Freeze have come away from home and this one won’t be easy for a first-year quarterback making only his second career road start.

3. Oklahoma at Tennessee

We’ll finally see what all the hype is about for the Vols who have yet to beat a nationally-ranked team not named South Carolina under Butch Jones. A sexy win could vault Tennessee into the Top 15 and strengthen the Eastern Division’s worth against other Power 5s. Neyland Stadium will be rocking on Sept. 12 and the Sooners will take the brunt of it.

2. LSU at South Carolina

Here’s one of the games dotting the SEC schedule this fall that feels like an upset waiting to happen — methodical, run-driven offense against a team that may not be as talented, but is considerably tough to beat at home. And the Gamecocks are due against the Tigers, losing five straight in the cross-divisional series dating back to 2002. After last season’s home debacle against Texas A&M, South Carolina needs to repair its ego a bit against ranked teams from the West.

1. Alabama at Georgia

The Bulldogs will have two, possibly three, chances this season to carry the East’s torch against Top 5 Western Division opponents, but this one’s the most favorable — if you can call it that. In addition to battling Auburn late in the season, Georgia must first get through Alabama to remain in the driver’s seat on its journey to Atlanta. College GameDay would be doing itself a disservice to not set up shop between the hedges on the first Saturday in October. This matchup could be the SEC’s ‘Game of the Year’ and if fans are lucky, might be an appetizer for a far more important showdown in December.