With LSU's College Football Playoff hopes dwindling before November chills arrive in the Bayou State, the temperature under head coach Brian Kelly is beginning to rise. Currently 5-2 and 2-2 in conference, Kelly can't afford too many more setbacks before Tiger fans tell him to "geaux away."

The top of the SEC is crowded with plenty of talented teams, but currently, three stand out above the rest: Alabama, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. With the 2025 campaign at its midway point, which of the three is the league's best? Let's examine.

Eli Drinkwitz's Missouri team is unbeaten and currently ranked 14th nationally, but there are plenty of skeptics who believe the Tigers have only feasted on cupcakes. With No. 8 Alabama coming to Columbia on Saturday, it's a chance for Mizzou to prove themselves.

Last Saturday, Texas A&M's Taurean York put on a performance worthy of recognition from Aggie linebacking legend Dat Nguyen. In his third year with the program, Nguyen highlights how York's game has evolved and the impact he's had on A&M's 4-0 start.

Under Nick Saban, Alabama's football dynasty won six national championships from 2009 to 2020, but in just 16 games with Kalen DeBoer at the helm, the Crimson Tide are flirting with mediocrity. This week's matchup with No. 5 Georgia is massive for the 17th-ranked Tide.

In 2022, Clark Lea's declaration that Vanderbilt, in time, would become the nation's best football program drew snickers and eye rolls. While the Commodores are still far from college football's throne, Lea & Co. are currently ranked 20th in the country.

In last week's loss to South Florida, a Florida Gator literally spit the bit to set up the game-deciding field goal that caused Billy Napier's squad to tumble out of the AP top 25. With a murderer's row ahead, it might be time for those in Gainesville to put Napier out to pasture.

After a 31-17 loss to Florida State in Week 1, Alabama fans (and even some donors) are beginning to call for Kalen DeBoer's ouster. With a $70 million buyout likely required to make that happen, it seems that the Crimson Tide faithful are just acting like angry, spoiled children.

After Big Ten programs won back-to-back national titles over the last two seasons, some are beginning to question the superiority of the vaunted SEC, which means that 2025 is the perfect time for Greg Sankey's league to reassert its college football dominance.

A stout unit at the beginning of the year, Texas A&M's defense has stumbled in its last two SEC games, allowing 530 and 469 yards of offense to South Carolina and Auburn, respectively. With a trip to Atlanta still up for grabs, the Aggies must revert back to their old ways now.

There are currently six teams in the SEC with two or fewer conference losses, and deciphering who will advance to the SEC Championship Game is as cloudy as ever. Add in what Lane Kiffin said earlier this week: Some coaches would prefer to avoid a trip to Atlanta if possible.

Georgia has not suffered back-to-back losses or a three-loss regular season since Kirby Smart's first year in Athens. However, with a must-win clash against No. 7 Tennessee this weekend, the Bulldogs are in jeopardy of being eliminated from the SEC title race and CFP consideration.

Across the SEC landscape, teams are still jockeying for position to reach the SEC Championship Game as well as a clearer path to the 12-team College Football Playoff. An intriguing slate of games in Week 11 could help make both of those pictures come into focus a little more.

Entering 2024, Florida's Billy Napier and Arkansas' Sam Pittman appeared to be the "favorites" among SEC coaches most likely to lose their jobs. As the calendar changes to November, the new favorite appears to be Mark Stoops, but even his firing seems like a longshot.

All-SEC linebacker Harold Perkins suffered a season-ending injury in Week 4, but since then, LSU's defense has somehow been even better. In their last three, the Tigers have allowed an average of 358.3 yards and 15.3 points as their win streak has reached six straight.

Starkville has been a problem for the Aggies. Promising seasons have frequently been derailed to the sound of cowbells despite A&M being the superior team. On Saturday, Mike Elko & Co. have the chance to ring in success rather than disappointment at Davis Wade Stadium.

Whether by consensus, bias, recent history or polls, there isn't a clear-cut answer to determining the top team in the Southeastern Conference. Some teams have yet to be fully exposed. Others could gain momentum late. With a wide-open race, chaos will surely unfold.

Encountering a formidable Missouri run defense, another productive performance from Le'Veon Moss will be required in order to continue Texas A&M's win streak. Moss, who will likely earn All-SEC honors, doesn't necessarily have to do more. He just needs to keep balling.