Bret Bielema’s opportunity at a crowning achievement during his second season at Arkansas comes Friday when the Razorbacks try and knock off their third straight nationally-ranked SEC opponent at Mizzou. If they do so, Georgia wins the Eastern Division.

The intrigue is high heading into the final weekend.

Ranking coaches based on their 2014 seasons to date, here’s a quick glance:

5. MARK RICHT, GEORGIA: A win over Georgia Tech on Saturday gives Richt at least 10 wins for the ninth time since 2001 at Georgia, an honorable feat. The Bulldogs are off to Atlanta is Mizzou loses to Arkansas on Friday. If not, it’s up to Richt to get the team mentally prepared to take on the Yellow Jackets despite a second-place, and ultimately disappointing, finish in the East.

4. BRET BIELEMA, ARKANSAS: Is Bielema a coach of the year candidate in the SEC? Before we go that far, let’s just enjoy the progress he’s made at a program that was in shambles when he arrived at the start of last season. The Razorbacks recently snapped a 17-game SEC losing streak and are now a win away from finishing a respectable 7-5 with a bowl bid. Don’t forget that two of Bielema’s losses this season were to Top 5 teams, a point to Alabama and a seven-point setback to Mississippi State. That’s impressive.

3. GARY PINKEL, MIZZOU: Does anyone believe in the Tigers? You’ve got one more week to get behind Pinkel and the excellent job he’s done at Mizzou this season. In his third year in the SEC, Pinkel’s a win over Arkansas away from his second Eastern Division crown. By comparison to his peers, that’s one more than Steve Spurrier’s picked up in 10 years at South Carolina. Chew on that, naysayers.

2. DAN MULLEN, MISSISSIPPI ST.: Credit Mullen for Mississippi State’s run to No. 1 this season and current spot as the last team in the College Football Playoff. The Bulldogs’ record against ranked teams under Mullen was abysmal heading into this fall, but he’s instilled confidence in a group that’s never won big. Each time out, Mississippi State expects to win and that altered mindset falls on one of the top coaches in program history.

1. NICK SABAN, ALABAMA: One more win and Saban’s back in Atlanta with a College Football Playoff berth on the line. Out-coached at the end of last year’s Iron Bowl loss to Auburn, it won’t happen again for the top-ranked Crimson Tide.