Here’s what we’re not overreacting to in the SEC after Week 7:

Selling Auburn after a loss at Mississippi State: Last week, Auburn moved to the front of the national championship conversation after a thorough dismantling of LSU, the type of performance we’ve come to expect from Gus Malzahn’s group. Oh, how quickly things change. Humbled in Starkville with an early 21-0 deficit by the freight train known as Mississippi State, the Tigers recovered and fared better over the next three quarters, but it wasn’t enough. Auburn’s still a very good football team with numerous weapons on offense, though the margin for error has diminished and there’s problems to solve defensively. One could blame Saturday’s loss on careless turnovers, but that would discredit Mississippi State’s overall value. The Tigers lost, on the road, to the SEC’s best team by two touchdowns. Don’t panic Auburn fans.

Tennessee’s offensive explosion in 35-point win: If you missed the Vols snapping a three-game skid against UT-Chattanooga on Saturday and just saw the score, you’re correct in assuming Tennessee had little trouble disposing of the Mocs … thanks to Justin Worley’s solid performance despite little room to operate. A closer look reveals season-long struggles continued up front as a make-shift offensive line gave up five sacks and never generated a pushing for the Tennessee running game. Butch Jones also burned freshman tailback Derrell Scott’s redshirt in the wake of Marlin Lane’s injury and Jalen Hurd’s lingering shoulder issue.

Alabama having lost a step with past two performances: No one sweated out that fourth quarter Saturday like Nick Saban, the face of the program who was in danger of losing consecutive SEC games for the first time since 2007. Landon Collins saved the day with a win-clinching interception against Brandon Allen, but the Tide were tested. What’s the verdict? Thanks to one of the nation’s best defenses, this team has championship DNA, regardless of the result over the last two weeks. Losing by a late touchdown on the road against an unbeaten third-ranked team is admirable and Arkansas is a much-improved football team. Alabama’s final two SEC games — Mississippi State and Auburn — in November will dictate this squad’s fate. Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU should be wins based on what we’ve seen from each of those three in recent weeks. Struggling offenses against Kirby Smart’s defense are often anemic.

Hutson Mason’s numbers vs. Mizzou: Mark Richt knows what he’s going to get out of his senior quarterback, between 150 and 200 yards and a touchdown or two. When Mason avoids turnovers, like he did at Mizzou, the passing game’s serviceable. He’ll never be a player Mike Bobo can depend on to win games, but that’s not how Georgia’s offense is built. Mason needs to continue his effectiveness on third down and via play-action behind Nick Chubb and the Bulldogs’ strong rushing attack. We were all spoiled by Aaron Murray’s prowess down the field the last four years. Georgia doesn’t have that caliber of passer at the position this fall, though it may not matter for the new East frontrunner.