After eight weeks, the SEC West story continues to play out. LSU, Alabama and Ole Miss still have a path to the title game in Atlanta as we head into November.

Here is what we learned about each team this week:

ALABAMA: We learned the Tide is tired. It showed in Alabama’s survival over Tennessee. If this game had been played in September, the Crimson Tide probably wins more easily, but they needed a fourth-quarter drive to beat UT. Alabama’s fatigue showed on the offensive line as quarterback Jacob Coker was pressured all day and on defense by the number of arm tackles the Volunteers ran through for extra yardage.

ARKANSAS: We learned quarterback Brandon Allen can produce in the clutch. In the four overtime win over Auburn, on two occasions the Razorbacks were down to a final play to stay alive in the game. In both cases, Allen came up big. He threw for two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions in the overtime periods.

AUBURN: We learned that dropping passes can be contagious. Several Tigers’ receivers repeatedly dropped passes during the loss at Arkansas. How bad was it? An Auburn defensive back who sat out the game with an injury, actually tweeted about it at halftime. Freshman quarterback Sean White threw the ball well, but did not get much help. He deserved a better fate in Fayetteville.

LSU: We learned the Bayou Bengals are attempting to balance their offense. Against Western Kentucky, the Tigers ran for 211 yards (150 by Leonard Fournette), and threw for 286. With games against Alabama, Ole Miss and Arkansas still to come, LSU is trying to give more of the load to the air attack than to have Fournette take poundings week after week.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: We learned that even when teams game plan to specifically stop Dak Prescott, it is difficult to execute it. Kentucky thought it had a plan to keep the senior in check. Prescott proved it was ineffective. He led the Bulldogs in rushing with 117 yards and completed 25-of-35 passes for 348 yards. Prescott was responsible for six touchdowns. MSU is a team no one wants to see on its schedule.

OLE MISS: We learned Vaught-Hemingway Stadium is a tough place to play. A sellout crowd did not exactly scare Texas A&M, but it did have another effect. Several Ole Miss players said the crowd’s energy was contagious, especially on defense. It showed. The Landsharks played with an emotion it had not all season.

TEXAS A&M: We learned that if Christian Kirk is not an offensive option, the Aggies are limited. Ole Miss held Kirk to two catches for 16 yards and one run for two yards. His one punt return went for minus-4. With Kirk blanketed, Ricky Jones-Seals got wide open on at least three occasions, but by the time quarterback Kyle Allen looked away from Kirk to find Seals, it was too late to get him the ball.