The college football calendar is beginning to really heat up over the last couple of weeks and the race to win the best conference in the sport is as closely contested as it has been in years.

In this state, both the Alabama Crimson Tide and Auburn Tigers are set to host huge games. The Texas A&M Aggies are coming to Tuscaloosa while Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers storm The Plains, but these are not the only games to watch this week in the conference.

Here are the three you need to have an eye on with potential shake ups on the way as the calendar hits late October:

No. 11 Tennessee @ South Carolina: 2:30 p.m. CST

Believe it or not, the Gamecocks are actually the favorite here. While it’s by less than a field goal, this is a massive test for the Volunteers coming off their huge win against Alabama last week. With Shane Beamer still coaching for his job at South Carolina, it should be an inspired effort from his team.

As for the Vols, a victory here would get them to 7-1 and place them squarely in the thick of the race in the conference as well as the College Football Playoff.

Vanderbilt @ No. 12 Kentucky: 6:30 p.m. CST

It’s hard to believe this is a big game, but the Wildcats — who have been the surprise of the SEC — are 6-1 with only a loss to Alabama on their resume. Kentucky is very much a CFP contender, and they could find a way to get to the SEC Championship in Atlanta for the first time in program history.

That means that the spotlight and the pressure is on in Lexington, and this is a game the Wildcats have to win convincingly if they are the team folks think they are. Kentucky is favored by roughly 10 points in a game that is a major measuring stick to see where this team is at.

No. 7 Ole Miss @ No. 19 Texas: 6:30 p.m. CST

This is the game of the week potentially in all of college football, and there are massive stakes here. The Longhorns have been a huge disappointment, and a third straight loss would place Steve Sarkisian directly on the hot seat. It would also potentially put Arch Manning on the bench in favor of Alabama native KJ Lacey, the Texas backup quarterback.

The Rebels meanwhile are trying to stake their claim as the best in the SEC, and they are field goal underdogs on the road in Austin. Trinidad Chambliss has the chance to establish Ole Miss as a national title contender in front of the whole country on Saturday night, and time will tell if he can do it.