As a disappointing season winds down, Auburn actually has a lot it can still accomplish.

At 4-6, winning out would mean playing in a bowl game for a second straight season. Doing so would mean wrecking the SEC championship game scenarios for two of the top contenders.

Before it can think about spoiling a season for its archrival Alabama, a visit from Texas A&M provides the first opportunity to create chaos.

Auburn (4-6, 1-5 SEC) is always good for at least one game where it makes a mess of a favored opponent and this week sets up perfectly for something weird. It’s the final home game in Jordan-Hare Stadium for this group that hasn’t had the chance to play a power-conference team under the lights so far.

Everyone knows the black hole Jordan-Hare Stadium can become at night for quality opponents so the conditions are right for something tricky to happen. Hugh Freeze is still seeking a signature moment in his two seasons there and a Senior Day upset of an SEC contender would be just that.

Best-case scenario for Auburn: Texas A&M’s blood thirst for Texas too strong

By now, most of you’ve heard Texas A&M coach Mike Elko’s slip of the tongue earlier this week. If not, here you go. This moment illustrates just how difficult it can be to compartmentalize all that’s swirling this time of year.

Elko was asked about staying focused this week for Auburn when the hype is building around the first rivalry game with Texas in 13 years coming next week. Saying the Aggies’ focus was “single-handedly on Texas … or I mean on Auburn right now” certainly drew a few smiles down in Auburn.

It’s just human nature to look past a team that’s lost five of its six SEC games when its biggest rival is set to visit for the first time since 2011 a week later. There was some of that in play last year when Auburn looked past New Mexico State with Alabama coming to town a week later.

Believe it or not but this Texas-Texas A&M game is even bigger than last year’s Iron Bowl. These two have Texas oil money hatred, enough to contribute to conference realignment and reunion. On top of that, should the Aggies (8-2, 5-1 SEC) and Longhorns (9-1, 5-1) hold serve this weekend, that rivalry game is an SEC Championship Game semifinal.

Auburn could ruin all that in 60 minutes of football.

The most recent hour on the Jordan-Hare turf gave the hosts a tailwind entering Saturday. Albeit against a Group-of-5 team in Louisiana-Monroe, Auburn found an offensive groove by winning 48-14. Payton Thorne was in rhythm, throwing for 286 yards and five touchdowns — three of which to five-star freshman Cam Coleman.

This is an Auburn offense with the tools and the opportunity to put it all together.

The worst-case scenario: Texas A&M has everything to play for

The Aggies’ two losses came to teams currently ranked in the CFP top 20 (Notre Dame and South Carolina) and have handled the teams they should beat. This team was riding high after a 38-23 win over LSU only to take a 44-20 beating at South Carolina when the gas tank was running low.

After an open week followed by a 38-3 win over New Mexico State, A&M should be topped off with the legs for a sprint to the finish. The Aggies will be without top running back Le’Veon Moss after going down with a season-ending leg injury at South Carolina.

That said, quarterback Marcel Reed emerged as a dangerous threat in the ground game after entering in the second-half comeback win over LSU. He’s a constant threat to break a big one without a ton of scouting tape for defenses study.

Reed’s capable of breaking the big one. But so is Auburn’s offense. It’s a matter of who can put together a full 60 minutes with a lot riding on this one (to different degrees) for both teams.

Prediction: Texas A&M 28, Auburn 24

My gut said pick Auburn with the burnt-orange visions leaking into Aggie brains, but my head said A&M is still the better team.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.