Six games. Six topics. Simple enough.

Here’s what I’ll be paying the closest attention to today in the SEC.

1. Nick Starkel vs. Kellen Mond

I have no idea how to explain Starkel’s 5-INT performance last week. Except, perhaps, to suggest that he was so focused on this Texas A&M revenge game that he mailed in preparation for a below average Mountain West team.

Knowing how college athletes think, that’s entirely plausible.

This is Starkel’s (pick your expletive) game. He knows it. Jimbo Fisher knows it. Nobody’s going to say it, but competitors live for these kinds of situations. No speech necessary.

It doesn’t get any simpler than: The head coach chose that guy instead of you.

I will be shocked if Arkansas doesn’t play well today. I don’t expect the Razorbacks to win, but I expect Starkel to play at least as well as Kellen Mond. It’ll be interesting — and telling — to see how much the Hogs rally around their quarterback.

2. For the love of CBS ratings, let Tua break some records

The Week 5 slate isn’t exactly stout, but without question, CBS could have selected any number of more competitive games for the coveted 3:30 slot than Ole Miss at Alabama.

The network chose Alabama. More specifically, the network chose Tua Tagovailoa.

I’m sure the network doesn’t want people flipping channels with 12:47 left in the 3rd when Nick pulls Tua. So don’t do it. Keep them on the edge of their seats.

Let him throw his 6th TD pass to finally break the program record. Then let him make a run at the SEC record of 7. The greatest QB in SEC history should, you know, actually own some of these records.

People like history, Nick. Alabama’s 66-3 wins are becoming indistinguishable. But everybody will remember the game Tua throws 7 TD passes.

3. Don’t Auburn this up, Gus

For the record, I think Auburn handles Mississippi State behind a defense that remembers all too well what happened last year.

That’s really the best part about this Auburn team. The fact that it’s virtually impossible for a defensive line to be too hyped. Skill players, sure? Those guys need to maintain a sense of calm amid the chaos, but Auburn’s d-line is free and likely encouraged to play angry. And as that d-line goes, so goes Auburn.

So even though Kylin Hill is a legitimate threat to most teams, I don’t think he gets 100 yards today unless he approaches 30 carries.

However, this is Auburn. And if there is one SEC team capable of losing a game it should win and breaking a fan base’s heart, it’s the Tigers.

Don’t Auburn it up.

4. Tonight will be telling for South Carolina

Night games at Willy B. are generally electric, but much of the buzz about 2019 already has worn off. South Carolina is 1-3 and coming off a lethargic effort at Missouri.

How do the Gamecocks respond? Does Ryan Hilinski bounce back? Do the Gamecocks go all-in on the running game?

If South Carolina loses tonight, at home, there is no reason to think this 3-game slide won’t turn into a bowl-eliminating 5-game slide and possibly result in a 3-9 season.

Will Muschamp’s buyout is sizable, but it’s not nearly as big as the annual checks South Carolina receives just for playing ball in the SEC. That’s the new reality.

Four years is plenty long enough. Frankly, I’m kinda tired of hearing about what kind of hole Steve Spurrier left the program in. That was 2015.

If South Carolina doesn’t beat Kentucky tonight, there’s a chance Muschamp finishes Year 4 with an overall losing record at South Carolina. He’s 23-20 right now. Among programs that fancy themselves as contenders, who survives that? Who enters Year 5 even 1 or 2 games above .500?

5. Vanderbilt isn’t out of bowl contention

The ‘Dores are 0-3. Big deal. Against that schedule, most unranked Power 5 teams would be, too. Heck, best case, most ranked Power 5 teams would be 1-2.

The good news: There still are 6 wins out there, starting today against Northern Illinois.

Everything changes if Vandy can’t take care of NIU, but I expect this to be a get-right day, another stat-stuffer for Ke’Shawn Vaughn and a confidence builder for Riley Neal.

FPI disagrees — it projects a 4-8 finish — but I’m more confident about Vandy’s ability to make a bowl than I am South Carolina’s. That would include 3 SEC road wins — at Ole Miss next week, at South Carolina in Week 10 and at Tennessee in Week 14.

6. Kyle Trask throws 40 times for 300 yards

There has been a lot of discussion this week about Florida’s run game, how it needs to get going and how Towson provides the ideal opportunity to jump-start it.

I guess.

I’m far more interested in Kyle Trask’s continuing to build a rapport with his receivers. Ultimately, his arm is going to decide how big of a threat these Gators pose to Georgia in the East.

Trask made a beautiful TD throw last week to Freddie Swain, but he also threw 2 picks and underthrew a few balls that won’t turn out nearly as well against LSU’s Grant Delpit or Georgia’s J.R. Reed. All of which is fine and expected in a guy’s first start in 7 years.

Which is all the more reason to build as many game reps as possible Saturday.