The ultimate SEC road trip is back. The best games. The best venues. The best atmospheres. If you could pick your destination every Saturday, where would you go?

This year, we're taking two road trips, both hypothetical of course. Our writers might end up at the same game some weeks, but this should allow us to see more teams and more campuses across the SEC.

Let's check in on what's in store for Week 2.

Road trip 1: Oklahoma at Tennessee

Tennessee hasn’t arrived.

For all the momentum surrounding Rocky Top these days, you can’t ignore the fact that they finished 7-6 last season. That’s the same number of wins as Florida, which beat the Vols, prompting a relieved Will Muschamp to say, “It’s great to see all these people out here getting disappointed.”

But expectations are everything. Muschamp was fired while Butch Jones got a contract extension. The Gators are rebuilding while the Vols are said to be on the precipice of challenging for the SEC East.

So how about we head to Knoxville to see if the hype is legit? Because if Tennessee is indeed ready, they’ll have to show it against Oklahoma.

This game, which is already slated for prime time, has all the trappings. On one side, it’s Tennessee orange and white. On the other, it’s Oklahoma crimson and cream. Combined, the two programs have won double-digit national titles and produced more than 100 consensus All-Americans. It’s Neyland vs. Wilkinson, Switzer vs. Majors, Fulmer vs. Stoops.

Oh, there’s Bob Stoops. We can’t forget him. SEC fans of all stripes should tune in for this one after all of Big Game Bob’s anti-SEC rants.

Two years ago, Stoops took on what he called the bottom of the SEC, saying, “Half of 'em haven’t done much at all.” At the time, he could have been referring to the sub-.500 Vols. But look at 'em now, Bob. After going 7-6, the Vols are a team on the rise and a trendy pick to reach the conference title game. Oklahoma? Well, one columnist is calling for Stoops’ head while Baylor and TCU are widening their lead over the Sooners in the Big 12 arms race.

When you look at Tennessee and Oklahoma, they appear to be heading in opposite directions. We'll see if that holds true on Sept. 12.

-- Alex Scarborough

Road trip 2: LSU at Mississippi State

Conference play kicks off in Week 2 with a trio of SEC games, but none better than LSU and Mississippi State under the lights at Davis Wade Stadium.

Fans will have been tailgating all day. The cowbells will be out in full force. And the late start (9:15 p.m. ET) will only add to the anticipation and excitement. Starkville might not have seemed like the ideal SEC destination a few years back, but after the run Mississippi State made a year ago, I can’t think of a better spot to be in Week 2.

The atmosphere isn’t the only reason we’re headed to Starkville, though. The game itself will serve as a measuring stick for two darkhorse contenders in the SEC West.

Many believe LSU has one of the more talented rosters in the entire conference, but there’s still a big question mark at quarterback where Brandon Harris and Anthony Jennings are competing for the starting job. The last time Harris started an SEC game on the road, he went 3-of-14 and never really moved the ball in a 41-7 loss to Auburn last year. And who knows if Jennings will even be available after his recent run-in with the law? We know the starter will fare well against McNeese State in Week 1, but let’s see how they do against a good team on the road. That will be the true test.

Mississippi State returns Dak Prescott, which means we get to see a Heisman Trophy contender for the second straight week, but there’s not much around him. Who takes over for Josh Robinson at running back? Will the offensive line be able to hold up against a strong LSU front seven? And how will the defense -- minus Preston Smith and Benardrick McKinney -- look under new coordinator Manny Diaz?

There’s a lot of uncertainty surrounding both teams, but a significant win early could set the tone for the rest of the season.

-- Greg Ostendorf