Is it too early to begin talk of the hot seat? Possibly.

But coaching in the SEC isn’t easy, and someone’s always on the hot seat. So heading into Week 6, SDS is going to rank the SEC head coaches based on who has the hottest seat.

Very Hot

1. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt

The Commodores dropped to 0-3 in the SEC with the loss last weekend at Kentucky and will likely fall to 0-4 in the league with a loss to Georgia this weekend. At this point, you’re searching for a second win on the schedule for Mason in his first year. Don’t get me wrong, he won’t be fired at the close of the season. Watch closely to see where Vandy is in year two after a full season under his belt as a head coach and a full recruiting class.

2. Will Muschamp, Florida

Muschamp’s Gators were off last week in the wake of its blowout loss at Alabama two weeks ago. Florida now faces Tennessee, whom they have not lost to since 2004. The Volunteers gave Georgia all it could handle last week in Athens and has a legitimate shot to beat the Gators in Knoxville. Should Muschamp lose to the Vols, serious questions begin to rise about his job security.

Much Cooler

3. Bret Bielema, Arkansas

The Hogs suffered a heart-breaking loss last week to Texas A&M at JerryWorld. Bielema’s team is much improved, in fact, the Razorbacks this season might be the best 4-8 team in the history of college football. Arkansas is still a year away, but Bielema has them right on track.

4. Butch Jones, Tennessee

The Volunteers came close last weekend in Athens against Georgia. However, coming close is all Tennessee has seemed to muster in recent years. They got a signature win versus South Carolina last season, but there’s a lot more talent on Rocky Top now and the Volunteers need a program-defining win. Is it Florida this weekend? Perhaps Alabama in a couple weeks? We’ll see.

5. Mark Stoops, Kentucky

Stoops got Kentucky’s first SEC win in over 1,000 days last weekend over Vanderbilt. The job Stoops is doing in Lexington is unprecedented; he’s recruiting at a level never before seen and seems hellbent on competing for SEC East championships rather than 8-5 and a bowl game.

6. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Spurrier drops way down in our list of coaches with the warmest seats. The Gamecocks lost inexplicably at home to Missouri after holding a 20-7 lead with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. If Carolina somehow loses to Kentucky this weekend, there’s a legitimate chance to the Gamecocks struggle to reach five wins. If that’s the case, Spurrier will begin questioning whether or not he’s too old to continue on the sidelines at Williams-Brice Stadium.

7. Les Miles, LSU

Miles drops a bit in our rankings, too. Takeaway a few late touchdowns against Mississippi State and the Bayou Bengals get blown out by Dak Prescott and company. The Tigers are a touchdown ‘dog at Auburn this weekend, but that game is not close, we’re looking at an 8-4 LSU team at best. Far from expectations in Death Valley.

Ice Cold

8. Mark Richt, Georgia

Richt barely escaped Tennessee last weekend, but I still think the Bulldogs have three losses on its schedule: at Missouri, at Arkansas and versus Auburn. Quarterback play and a vulnerable secondary will be the demise of this Georgia team. Will the noise creep back in between the hedges?

9. Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Pinkel and Maty Mauk got a potentially season-saving win in the “other” Columbia last Saturday night to keep its hopes of a second straight SEC East title alive. Mizzou is not by any stretch of the imagination dominant. The pass rush led by Shane Ray and Markus Golden are the highlight of that team. But can Pinkel keep the cupboard stocked with SEC-level talent?

10. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State

Mullen is safe. For now. This weekend’s matchup with Texas A&M is monumental in the life of Mullen’s program in Starkville. He’s won just three games against AP Top 25 teams in his tenure with the Bulldogs, and he’s never beaten two top-1o teams in the same season. If Mullen’s team can defend its home field and beat A&M, Mullen will have written his legacy. However, if the Bulldogs lost, does its season go spiraling down?

11. Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss

This weekend’s showdown is the biggest game of Freeze’s career. Expectations have been raised in Oxford after reaching a bowl game in his first season, and now with the Rebels on the edge of the top 10, are they ready to compete with the likes of Bama and Auburn?

12. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M

What a comeback win for Sumlin and his team last weekend in Dallas over Arkansas. The Hogs sucker-punched A&M early in the game, but Kenny Hill led the Aggies back late. Sumlin now must prepare his team for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff in Starkville. He’s building a powerhouse in College Station, though.

13. Gus Malzahn, Auburn

The Tigers are 4-0 and now embark on arguably the hardest schedule in the country. Six ranked opponents in its final eight games loom ahead for Auburn and Gus Malzahn’s team has yet to really click and show the dominance it did at times last season. A big win over LSU on Saturday night could kickstart another run for Auburn.

14. Nick Saban, Alabama

Another opponent is waiting in the wings looking to take down mighty Alabama this weekend. Nick Saban’s team travels to Oxford to face Ole Miss. After Bo Wallace, among others, said they could score on the Tide last year, Alabama beat the Rebels 25-0. But how will Blake Sims play in his first road start?