After a Saturday of key games, two teams in the SEC are now ahead of the rest in the race to Atlanta.

LSU is firmly affixed in the driver’s seat, undefeated in the season. Alabama dispatched previously-unbeaten Texas A&M to put itself back into contention despite a loss to Ole Miss.

The Rebels took a step back losing to Memphis.

A&M is still in the race, but the loss to Alabama hurt them.

That pretty much leaves things up to LSU and the Crimson Tide.

Those two play Nov. 7, but there is more work to do for both of the teams. Alabama still faces Tennessee, Mississippi State and Auburn, although that is a fairly-smooth road. LSU, on the other hand, still has Ole Miss, Arkansas and Texas A&M.

Does that put Alabama in control? Only in the fact they have to win games in which the Tide will be favored. They still need to stare at the scoreboard and hope LSU stumbles. The Tigers could do that. Arkansas put together a hot streak last season to end the year, LSU lost the last time it went to Oxford and A&M could be a winner-take-all affair.

The SEC West needs one thing to happen in regards to making the College Football Playoff: no more than one loss for the division winner heading into the SEC championship game. It is going to be tough for a two-loss team to get into the final four.

Ole Miss and Texas A&M pose a threat to that if they win out, but lose the SEC title game. At this point, it appears the hope resides in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa.

Leonard Fournette vs. a stingy Crimson Tide defense. Derrick Henry vs. a stingy Tiger defense.

Who knows, maybe the Heisman Trophy is on the line in that game as well as conference pride.

On Nov. 7, one team will take firm control of the conference future. One player might take firm control of a valuable piece of hardware. But remember one thing: Ole Miss, Texas A&M and the rest are not going to simply roll over the rest of the way.

There is still a lot of football to be played.