There’s a single SEC coach out West this season that no one’s mentioned yet. His team sits at 6-2 just inside the Top 25 despite not having the luxury of a bye week. Eight straight games over a two-month stretch with a schedule that does no favors.

The Mad Hatter deserves some credit.

Ranking coaches based on their 2014 seasons to date with an emphasis on their last game, here’s a quick glance:

5. LES MILES, LSU — The Tigers fell out of the Top 25 a few weeks ago after a disappointing 34-point loss at Auburn, but that’s the beauty of the SEC: the gauntlet continues every game and teams have a chance at returning to respectability with a couple of wins. Under the pressures of a road environment, inexperienced LSU crumbled on the big stage and execution suffered, but Miles never doubted his team. Responding with back-to-back SEC wins is a sign of character and puts the Tigers in position for a strong finish. Armed with the nation’s top scoring defense, unbeaten and third-ranked Ole Miss comes to Baton Rouge this weekend with College Football Playoff aspirations. Don’t count out Miles’ team.

4. MARK RICHT, Georgia — Arkansas over Georgia last week was a popular upset pick across the country, perhaps too much overselling of the job — or lack thereof in the SEC — Bret Bielema’s done with the Razorbacks this season. Instead, the SEC East’s best team dominated for a second consecutive week, unleashing Nick Chubb between the tackles like Arkansas had intended on doing with Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams. Richt’s Bulldogs are in prime position to make a move in the Playoff picture if they win out and capture an SEC Championship. Depending on how other perceived elites fare the rest of the way, it would be interesting if a two-loss SEC champion (would have to be Georgia if Bulldogs fall to Auburn) can still reach the final four.

3. NICK SABAN, Alabama — Wolves don’t concern themselves with the opinions of sheep. That’s a little strong, but Saban and his Alabama football team proved an emphatic point over the weekend against previously-ranked Texas A&M, bludgeoning the Aggies, 59-0. Saban said that he let his team ‘play loose’ and referenced Secretariat’s dominance in his post-game speech. Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mark Synder’s remarks on Tuesday were most telling: “We ran into a buzzsaw.” Exactly, an unstoppable machine with its sights set on an 11-1 finish and, at worse, a Playoff berth.

2. HUGH FREEZE, Ole Miss — One of two popular names in the West mentioned as a possible replacement for Will Muschamp at Florida, Freeze isn’t letting any outside distractions derail the Rebels’ national rise in his third season in Oxford. Ole Miss shook off a so-so first half offensively against Tennessee last time out with a defense-driven blowout to keep its standing in the polls. Saturday’s road trip to LSU marks the toughest game away from home thus far but Freeze will have his team focused with College GameDay in tow.

1. DAN MULLEN, Mississippi State — Coming off its second bye week of the season, Mississippi State begins the homestretch this weekend at Kentucky, a favorable matchup for the Bulldogs. The single toughest game in the SEC the rest of the way isn’t until Nov. 15 when Mullen’s group battles Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Mississippi State just hopes it’s 9-0 and still No. 1 heading into that one, a showdown with SEC Championship and postseason implications.

 

Watch:
Who should be leading for SEC and National Coach of the Year? SDS writers Jason Hall and Drew Laing discuss below.