3 SEC football teams with a hand on the panic button in Week 3

With two weeks in the books, the SEC is looking like the most dominant football conference in the country again. And while Texas was in the Big 12 at the time, the SEC has two current teams, the Longhorns and Alabama, that made the 2023/24 College Football Playoff field.

The Big Ten has the defending champions, Michigan, but the Wolverines may just have that title vacated because of the Connor Stalions scandal. This is the SEC's world -- Ohio State has a share for now as the No. 3 team in the country -- and everyone else is just living in it.

But not every single program is living like kings in the "It Just Means More" conference right now. Several schools have taken an early-season loss and must ensure they don't have a losing record before the calendar officially turns from summer to autumn.

These 3 SEC football teams have a hand on the panic button in Week 3

Auburn

A Group of 5 school from New Mexico is visiting in Week 3. Even if Auburn was undefeated heading into their matchup with the Lobos, there'd still be a level of trauma suffered by Tiger fans after New Mexico State won a 31-10 shocker in Week 12 of the 2023 season. That loss to the Aggies was that program's first win against the SEC in 28 tries.

Needless to say, the Tigers cannot lose as a four-touchdown favorite. Doing so would heat up Hugh Freeze's seat to a boiling point. Having a third fired coach since 2020 would be a disaster. But losing to New Mexico would at least initiate that conversation.

The Tigers must figure out if Payton Thorne is their definitive best option as QB1. Some believe Hank Brown is.

That question will singlehandedly determine Freeze's future on the Plains.

Mississippi State

Losing to ASU wasn't a major shock for Mississippi State, but taking an early out-of-conference loss is still tough for any program at the Power 4 level. The Bulldogs are still in the infant stages of the Jeff Lebby era but can't already fall behind so quickly.

Not in today's SEC. With Texas and Oklahoma in the mix, programs like Mississippi State will have a harder time staying relevant in the "It Just Means More" conference. No team has dealt with more adversity in the last few years with Mike Leach unexpectedly passing away but this is an unforgiving sport.

Blake Shapen and the receiving tandem of Kevin Coleman Jr. and Jordan Mosley should buoy the Bulldogs offensively but the defense ceding 415 yards to the Sun Devils is certainly worrying.

Toledo has been a consistent force in the MAC under Jason Candle and has put up 87 points in two games thus far. They cannot be taken lightly.

If they are, there will be serious questions about Lebby's ability to lead Mississippi State into the future.

LSU

South Carolina looks better than most thought they would. After struggling in Week 1 against Old Dominion in a 23-19 razor-thin win, LaNorris Sellers answered any questions about whether or not he should be Gamecocks QB1 ahead of former Auburn starter Robby Ashford against Kentucky in a huge 31-6 conference win. Sellers completed 10 of his 14 pass attempts and accumulated two touchdowns; though he did throw an interception.

It was his first career INT, and it won't be Sellers' last. Given the strength of LSU's secondary, the Tigers are projected to feast on turnovers in Week 3.

But what if they don't?

What if Sellers marches down the field like Miller Moss did in a 27-20 Week 1 win for USC? Crazier things have happened when you consider that the game is in Columbia. LSU head coach Brian Kelly's Week 1 postgame rant may have been a sign that there are cracks in the foundation.

The Gamecocks can be the catalyst to even more drama down on the Bayou with an upset. Firing Coach O wasn't long ago, and now there's uncertainty if Kelly is the guy for the Tigers long-term. South Carolina winning as more than a touchdown underdog would make LSU boosters wishing they never hired Kelly after an accomplished, but ultimately underwhelming, tenure in South Bend.

Unless that 2022 SEC West division win was worth it.