Remaining unbeatens Mississippi State and Ole Miss control their own destiny in the wild SEC West, but there’s a couple other longtime elites ready to take advantage if the Magnolia State stumbles:

RELATED: Road to Atlanta — East Guide

MISSISSIPPI STATE (6-0, 3-0)

The Bulldogs are well-deserving of the program’s first No. 1 ranking, doing say in the nation’s toughest conference. No obstacle has been too challenging this season for Mississippi State, a team without noticeable flaws. Dak Prescott’s risen to Heisman frontrunner status while an opportunistic defense anchored by a dominant front seven has kept the opposition at bay.

REMAINING SEC GAMES: at Kentucky, Oct. 25; vs. Arkansas, Nov. 1; vs. UT-Martin, Nov. 8; at Alabama, Nov. 15; vs. Vanderbilt, Nov. 22; at Ole Miss, Nov. 29

VERDICT: The way we see it, there’s only two challenging matchups the rest of the way for the Bulldogs — both road games against current division elites. Should Mississippi State win the West and reach the conference championship game, Dan Mullen’s would’ve beaten an unprecedented five programs ranked inside the Top 10 on the way. A sixth would come in the form of Georgia to ensure a final four berth. Impressive.

OLE MISS (6-0, 3-0)

By SEC standards, the Rebels get a breather Saturday at home before traveling to Death Valley where the Tigers will be focused on squashing Mississippi’s perfect season. If the third-ranked Rebels move through the next two games unscathed, a Nov. 1 showdown with Auburn becomes the game of the year in Oxford.

REMAINING SEC GAMES: vs. Tennessee, Saturday; at LSU, Oct. 25; vs. Auburn, Nov. 1; vs. Presbyterian, Nov. 8; at Arkansas, Nov. 22; vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 29

VERDICT: Ole Miss played well in every facet at Texas A&M last weekend, dominating the Aggies from nearly start to finish. With the best defense in the SEC, the Rebels know they’re going to be in every game the rest of the way. It comes down to execution in crunch time and Bo Wallace proved against Alabama that he’s capable of coming through with the outcome resting on his shoulders. It’s too soon to talk about an Egg Bowl pitting two unbeatens, but that’s where we’re headed if the Magnolia State keeps it up.

AUBURN (5-1, 2-1)

Auburn’s nine-game winning streak against SEC competition came to an end in Starkville against now No. 1 Mississippi State last time out. The effort was a far cry from the invincible look the Tigers showed during a win over LSU on Oct. 4 and was quite sloppy at times. Gus Malzahn’s team will be a player at year’s end in the SEC West race, but the role could come as spoiler instead of champion.

REMAINING SEC GAMES: vs. South Carolina, Oct. 25; at Ole Miss, Nov. 1; vs. Texas A&M, Nov. 8; at Georgia, Nov. 15; vs. Samford, Nov. 22; at Alabama, Nov. 29

VERDICT: Auburn has arguably the nation’s toughest schedule remaining with four games against nationally-ranked teams including three current Top 10s. If the Tigers get a shot at defending their SEC crown in Atlanta, they would’ve earned it as a one-loss and would be a College Football Playoff lock with a victory, possibly their second over Georgia in less than a month’s time.

ALABAMA (5-1, 2-1)

Nick Saban wasn’t happy with disappointed fans following what he deemed a quality win last weekend over Arkansas. Maybe the Crimson Tide faithful’s expectations in fact are too high after three national titles over the last five seasons. Alabama’s a talented football team and deserving of a Top 10 ranking, but this squad doesn’t appear to be championship-quality with issues up front and in the secondary.

REMAINING SEC GAMES: vs. Texas A&M, Saturday; at Tennessee, Oct. 25; at LSU, Nov. 8; vs. Mississippi State, Nov. 15; vs. Western Carolina, Nov. 22; vs. Auburn, Nov. 29

VERDICT: No longer in control of its own destiny following the recent loss at Ole Miss, there’s still a chance at a College Football Playoff berth if Alabama wins out. Likely favored in every game the rest of the way, even at home vs. the top-ranked Bulldogs, the Crimson Tide need to show more consistency on both sides of the football starting with Saturday’s bout with Texas A&M. Kevin Sumlin’s offense has torched Alabama’s defense the last two years, but that unit’s been average over its last two contests.

Editor’s note: Texas A&M’s been taken off the list this week after the Aggies’ second SEC loss, but a win at Alabama on Saturday puts Kevin Sumlin’s team right back in the mix.