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Here is a look at the biggest story line for each SEC team entering Week 10:
ALABAMA
Story line: The LSU game will make or break the Crimson Tide’s season.
There’s really no way around it. After the Week 3 loss to Ole Miss, this became a game that the Crimson Tide must win to keep both their SEC championship and College Football Playoff hopes alive. A loss here all but kills the hope for both, but a win puts Alabama back in good position.
ARKANSAS
Story line: Can the Razorbacks find their way to bowl eligibility in November?
At 4-4, there is not much margin of error for Arkansas during the final month of the regular season. This week’s game at Ole Miss is a tough start to what needs to be at least a two-win November for the Razorbacks.
AUBURN
Story line: Can the Tigers find their way to bowl eligibility in November?
Much like the Arkansas blurb above, the Tigers enter the final month of the season at 4-4 and need a couple of wins to qualify for postseason play. While that may be hard to believe for the team that was picked to win the conference in the preseason, it’s the harsh reality. A trip to Kyle Field this week is makes for a tricky start to November.
FLORIDA
Story line: It is time to finish the job on this SEC East title.
The Gators need a win against Vanderbilt to clinch a trip to the SEC Championship game as the SEC East division winner. The Commodores have a good defense, but just imagine the trouble they’ll have scoring points against the vaunted Florida defense a week after being shut out by Houston.
GEORGIA
Story line: Will Mark Richt survive this season?
There’s a game to be played against Kentucky, but everyone in Athens is concerned about the status of their head coach after dropping his third conference game of the season against Florida last week. Now in his 15th year, many are wondering if he has done all he can do for the program.
KENTUCKY
Story line: Are the Wildcats setting fans up for another disappointing fade this season?
Kentucky lost six games to close out the 2014 season and missed the postseason after dropping from 5-1 to 5-7. The Wildcats are showing a similar trend in 2015, losing three consecutive games to drop their record to 4-4 after a 4-1 start to the season.
LSU
Story line: The path to a SEC West title gets a whole lot easier if the Tigers can beat Alabama.
Unbeaten and eyeing a potential College Football Playoff run, LSU must first take care of business in Tuscaloosa. Beating a Nick Saban-coached team on the road is never an easy assignment, but it is a necessary one if the Tigers want to keep the dream season alive.
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Story line: How will the Bulldogs perform in a midweek game in unfamiliar territory?
The Bulldogs have not been to Columbia, Mo., since 1984, so it will be a new experience for everyone involved with Mississippi State football. The Bulldogs are 6-2, so a bowl game is secured, but with the way they’ve been playing in recent weeks, their sights are set much higher.
MISSOURI
Story line: With Maty Mauk out of the picture, is there any hope for the offense in 2015?
No offense to true freshman QB Drew Lock, but the offense has been one of the worst in the nation under his watch. Not to say that Maty Mauk was going to come back and make everything great overnight, but there was at least some hope that he could bring improvement. Now that he’s suspended for the remainder of the season, how do the Tigers start producing points with Lock at the helm?
OLE MISS
Story line: Can the Rebels turn their game against Arkansas into a track meet?
This isn’t to say that Arkansas can’t score points, nor is it to say that the Rebels can’t man up and be physical, but the best chance for a comfortable win against the Razorbacks is to simply take advantage of the passing game that worked so well against Auburn last week. Heading into the bye week at 8-2 with LSU looming would be huge.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Story line: Are the Gamecocks going to win another game against an FBS opponent this season?
South Carolina gave a very strong effort at Kyle Field last week, but came up just short against Texas A&M. With an upcoming game against The Citadel a likely win, the Gamecocks will need two wins against Tennessee, Florida and Clemson to become bowl eligible. That seems like a stretch, but it does point out the important of a trip to Knoxville which likely signifies South Carolina’s best chance to beat another FBS team this year.
TENNESSEE
Story line: Can the Vols win out?
Most Vols fans have turned the page on their four tough losses that tarnished what many hoped would be a special season. With the glass half full again following wins against Georgia and Kentucky, it is starting to look like Tennessee could run the table against its remaining schedule. The Vols have won their last two against South Carolina, and this time they don’t have to worry about their long-time nemesis in former coach Steve Spurrier.
TEXAS A&M
Story line: Is Kyler Murray the long-term answer at quarterback?
The true freshman showed some good things with both his arm and his legs during his first start for the Aggies last week against South Carolina. But it is important to remember that it was done against one of the league’s worst defenses. Lucky for Murray, he will again face one of the league’s struggling defensive groups when Auburn comes to town this week.
VANDERBILT
Story line: Has the Commodores offense hit rock bottom?
Vanderbilt was shut out by a so-so Houston defense, and there were not many good takeaways. The Commodores turned the ball over four times, ran through two different struggling quarterbacks and managed just 185 yards of offense in the process. Things are going to get much tougher in The Swamp against Florida, so it’d be nice if Commodores fans could count on last week being the worst possible outcome.
Nick Cole is a former print journalist with several years of experience covering the SEC. Born and raised in SEC country, he has taken in the game-day experience at all 14 stadiums.
