It’s time to look at key questions across the SEC involving Saturday’s Week 10 slate of games:

Perception: Season’s over for Texas A&M after 3 straight losses

October was unkind to the Aggies, a team once ranked No. 6 at 5-0 with national championship aspirations. Then came Mississippi State, then Ole Miss, then Alabama. Three consecutive losses humbled Texas A&M and obliterated Kenny Hill’s Heisman candidacy. It got so bad in Tuscaloosa that coach Kevin Sumlin questioned his team’s leadership and made every starting position up for grabs, including the quarterback spot. A season that began with such promise was crippled by coaching and personnel concerns once the SEC portion of the slate kicked into high gear.

Reality: Final 4 games possible teetering point for Sumlin, program

It’s important for Sumlin’s team to respond to adversity the rest of the way and sustain some of the momentum established early. If you’re not progressing, you’re falling behind and right now, the Aggies are ahead of Arkansas and somewhere in the middle of Ole Miss and Mississippi State in the SEC West pecking order. Texas A&M would need to pull a Houdini to win 10 games, but nine’s a possibility if the Aggies can split matchups against Auburn and LSU during the home stretch. Texas A&M has the flash — players, facility enhancements and uniforms — but do the Aggies have the results?

Perception: Ole Miss’ fall from grace begins now post-LSU loss

You didn’t think Ole Miss was going 12-0 in the regular season, did you? Many expect the Rebels to trail off now that their cloak of invincibility — thanks to the best defense in the country — has been torn by a hungry pack of Tigers. Few have given respect to an LSU team that’s one of the SEC’s most-improved during the second half of the season. The Tigers’ are beginning to play defense the way we expected in August with a talent-laden, yet youthful group. There’s a reason LSU has the SEC’s best home record over the last five years and proved it last weekend against the third-ranked team in the country.

Reality: Rebels remain in prime Playoff position

It was amazing to see how many folks jumped off the Good Bo bandwagon after a costly mistake in the final seconds in Death Valley. Without Wallace, the Rebels’ one-dimensional offense wouldn’t have toppled Alabama in Week 6, a possible season-defining win for Ole Miss. In a reactionary sport like college football, one game leads to downfall and Wallace’s ability to shake-off a subpar outing is paramount to his team’s success the rest of the way. The Rebels, ranked fourth in the first Playoff poll, face a potential national championship elimination game on Saturday night against Auburn, the third-best team in the country according to the committee.

Perception: Alabama at No. 6 in the Playoff was a bad choice

I’d imagine the Crimson Tide fanbase went into panic mode (for honestly no reason at all) Tuesday night when it was revealed Alabama was left out of the College Football Playoff selection committee’s top four teams despite being ranked No. 3 in this week’s AP Poll at 7-1. One could argue no team in the SEC has passed the eye test more than Alabama over its last two games, Amari Cooper-led offensive explosions against Texas A&M and Tennessee. The Crimson Tide appear to be every bit as powerful offensively, if not more so, as the rest of the SEC’s postseason contenders, but the committee’s emphasis of quality wins damaged the Crimson Tide’s overall worth.

Reality: Crimson Tide lack quality wins, but they’re coming

Based on body of work to this point, Alabama doesn’t deserve to be in the Playoff. Nick Saban’s team lost to the best opponent it has played (Ole Miss) and hasn’t beaten a single ranked team at the time of the game. The season-opening win over West Virginia appeared less-than-convincing at the time, but the Mountaineers have proved their worth as we approach the stretch run. Three of Alabama’s final four regular-season games come against LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn, so the Crimson Tide will have earned their spot in the Playoff if they win out.