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 3, SDS is going to rank the SEC head coaches based on who has the hottest seat.

1. Derek Mason, Vanderbilt

Yes, he’s two games into his tenure in Nashville, but things have gotten off to a disastrous start. Yes, James Franklin bolted and took recruits with him but Mason doesn’t look comfortable as the head guy and hasn’t seemed confident in any decision he’s made. After back-t0-back nine win seasons, I’m not sure Mason could survive even at Vandy if he wins just two or three games this season.

2. Bret Bielema, Arkansas

Bielema’s first year in Fayetteville was less than desirable and we’ll see what he can do in year two with the Razorbacks. Bielema has struggled recruiting thus far, and with the way the game’s going, don’t be surprised if his offensive system doesn’t make it in the league. The Hogs looked good in the first half of its Aug. 30 opener against Auburn but was shut down after the break. It’ll be interesting to see how Bielema fares in his second go-around in conference play.

3. Mark Stoops, Kentucky

The Wildcats have looked good through its first two games, and Stoops has signed two good recruiting classes. More than 50,000 packed Commonwealth Stadium for the ‘Cats spring game showing Stoops has gotten the fan base to buy in. We’ll know more about UK once they hit SEC play, which begins Saturday at Florida for Stoops’ team but how long can he hold the fans’ attention before it turns to hoops?

4. Will Muschamp, Florida

The matchup against Kentucky this weekend could prove pivotal in Muschamp’s career in Gainesville. Was last year an aberration? Are the Gators just that bad? A win or loss against the Wildcats on Saturday will be the first step to proving either one of those. Jeremy Foley has said he’s firmly behind Muschamp but a loss to Kentucky could begin to waver that support.

5. Butch Jones, Tennessee

Jones has reinvigorated a weary fan base on Rocky Top, but nobody could really seem to beg the Vols heading into the 2014 campaign. We heard predictions ranging from 6-6 and a bowl game to 4-8 for Jones in year two. He’ll likely be afforded another year in Knoxville, and he’s coaching an incredibly young team, but Tennessee wants to return to prominence.

6. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State

Mullen’s best season in Starkville is 9-4, and expectations have been high entering each season only for the Bulldogs to suffer a loss that sets its season back. The noise surrounding the Bulldogs reached its apex prior to the 2014 season with pundits saying Mississippi State could possibly play spoiler in the SEC West. But if Mullen’s team limps into the Egg Bowl at or under .500, you have to wonder how long the administration will stick with him.

7. Hugh Freeze, Ole Miss

The other Mississippi school had high expectations heading into the 2014 campaign. Freeze has recruited two very highly-regarded recruiting classes to The Grove and has taken the Rebels to bowl games in each of his first two seasons. Ole Miss has never been able to win the big game, however and that could be the thorn in Ole Miss’ side as the Rebels look to become a player on the national stage.

8. Kevin Sumlin, Texas A&M

Sumlin’s first season in College Station was that of folklore as he, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and some guy named Johnny took the SEC and college football world by storm. The Aggies took a small step back last season to nine wins but have looked like a contender thus far in the SEC West with Kenny Hill at the helm. The momentum is building around the A&M program, but could it get too high too fast?

9. Gus Malzahn, Auburn

Malzahn’s first season on the Plains was historic. He orchestrated the greatest turnaround in college football history and looks to have just as good of a team on his hands in 2014. Many believe he’s closed the gap in the state of Alabama between the two schools and poses a great threat to that man named Saban in Tuscaloosa.

10. Gary Pinkel, Missouri

Pinkel’s the second longest tenured head coach in the league and was consistently successful with Missouri in the Big 12. But now that the Tigers are in the SEC – which will prove to be more lucrative for its program – and have an SEC East division championship under its belt, Pinkel now must keep the wins coming in Columbia.

11. Mark Richt, Georgia

The Bulldogs have championship hopes in 2014 and have leapt to the top of many analysts’ playoff brackets after their Week 1 win over Clemson. But part of Richt’s stigma of the years in Athens is that Georgia has never won the big game to get them over the hump. If the Dogs lose a couple inexplicable games this season and fail to win the SEC, it could be the beginning of the end for the longest tenured head coach in the league.

12. Les Miles, LSU

The Mad Hatter has his youngest team he’s coached this year, but he’s taken the LSU program to new heights. Yes, the coach he took over for left the program in great shape, but Miles has made his mark on it. This team is probably a year or two away from being great, but Miles is safe to keep eating the grass in Tiger Stadium.

13. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina

Steve Spurrier has made his mark at two SEC programs, but what he’s done at South Carolina is unprecedented. He took over a program from Lou Holtz that had begun to compete in the SEC after decades of mediocrity. The Gamecocks have come close to winning its first ever SEC title at times during Spurrier’s tenure in Columbia, but you do have to begin thinking how much longer Spurrier’s going to want to be on the sidelines.

14. Nick Saban, Alabama

Saban’s job is safe. Under no circumstances would he ever get fired in Tuscaloosa. He could probably go 0-12 one year and still be loved in the Yellowhammer State. Saban has become the best coach in college football history and has lifted a storied Alabama program to heights it has never experienced. He’s said multiple times he wants to retire with the Crimson Tide, it’s just a matter of how long before that day comes.