There is no such thing as a doubt that quarterback is a very powerful place on the sphere. Only a 12 months in the past, the 2 groups taking part in for a nationwide championship each despatched their beginning quarterbacks to the NFL.
Loads of SEC groups count on to be competing for a nationwide championship this 12 months. To do this, they are going to want some wonderful quarterback play. After all, that should not be an issue to seek out in such a proficient league total.
With that in thoughts, here is a breakdown of the quarterback tiers throughout the SEC. Every tier had 4 out of the sixteen SEC groups assigned to it, beginning with these on the prime.
The High-Tier Groups
Texas Longhorns, LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, Texas A&M Aggies
On the prime of the SEC for quarterback play are the Texas Longhorns. That is for good cause, as Arch Manning stays the highest particular person quarterback within the convention and a favourite to be the longer term first total draft choose.
Behind Texas on the top-tier of groups listed here are the LSU Tigers, Ole Miss Rebels, and Texas A&M Aggies. All of them have one factor in frequent, an skilled quarterback who took their workforce to the School Soccer Playoff. In LSU’s case, Sam Leavitt did that whereas he was at Arizona State. Trinidad Chambliss and Marcel Reed, in the meantime, did it simply final 12 months at Ole Miss and Texas A&M, respectively.
The Higher Center-Tier Groups
Alabama Crimson Tide, Georgia Bulldogs, South Carolina Gamecocks, Auburn Tigers
The Alabama Crimson Tide are going into the 2026 season with some questions at quarterback. Particularly, a quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, which most count on Russell to win. Regardless, there may be wonderful upside within the QB room at Alabama.
Georgia, like three of these top-tier groups, has a beginning quarterback in Gunner Stockton who took them to the CFP earlier than. Now, he simply must take the following step. As for South Carolina and Auburn, they’re each very excessive upside conditions, although questions stay. LaNorris Sellers needs to be an NFL expertise for South Carolina, however he did not play prefer it a season in the past. For Auburn, Byrum Brown is making the leap to the SEC as a switch (South Florida), however already is aware of head coach Alex Golesh’s offense.
The Decrease Center-Tier Groups
Oklahoma Sooners, Missouri Tigers, Kentucky Wildcats, Tennessee Volunteers
A season in the past, John Mateer flashed his expertise however suffered an harm, and likewise flashed how a lot he can wrestle at occasions. Nonetheless, there’s so much to love with Mateer, and he did take the Oklahoma Sooners to the CFP. It is simply exhausting to disregard the 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions he posted in 2025 after tossing 29 touchdowns to only seven interceptions at Washington State in 2024.
As for Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee, they will all have new beginning quarterbacks in 2026. Missouri has switch Austin Simmons (Ole Miss), whereas Kentucky has switch Kenny Minchey (Notre Dame). Each are high-upside guys, however each additionally did not win quarterback battles at their outdated faculties. In the meantime, Tennessee is selecting between high-upside children with little to no expertise, Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre. Upside is nice, however there’s little or no proof of idea.
The Decrease-Tier Groups
Vanderbilt Commodores, Florida Gators, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Arkansas Razorbacks
A season in the past, Vanderbilt had its finest quarterback in program historical past underneath heart in Diego Pavia. Now, it is into the unknown. Fortunately, that unknown consists of top-QB prospect Jared Curtis. He is younger, and you may count on rising pains, however the expertise is actually there. It is in all probability only a 12 months or so early.
Florida and Kentucky each have new teaching staffs. With them come new quarterbacks. There are going to be quarterback battles there, actually, nevertheless it’s clear there are extra questions than solutions. Florida is deciding between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. In the meantime, Arkansas is deciding between KJ Jackson and AJ Hill. Mississippi State is prone to go together with Kamario Taylor. He has some restricted expertise from final season (43-of-77 for 629 yards, 5 touchdowns and one interception), however might want to take a serious step ahead.
