The plethora of talented SEC quarterbacks have lived up to their hype through the first two weeks of the 2026 season, but daunting tasks lie ahead as many teams open conference play on Saturday.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor has looked the most impressive so far, flashing his dual-threat ability with unbelievable runs and outstanding throws to a slew of talented receivers. Right up the road in Oxford, Trinidad Chambliss continues to make waves as one of the most game-wrecking and challenging gunslingers to defend against in college football.
Along with Taylor, rising young stars like Faizon Brandon and Keelon Russell have already made massive impacts for their respective programs, making the separation between these players a slim
and close race entering Week 3.
Here are the top 10 SEC quarterbacks:
1. Kamario Taylor - Mississippi State
Stats: 581 PASS YDS | 67.9% COMP | 7 PASS TD |
The top two quarterbacks in the SEC are in Mississippi, but the gunslinger in Starkville has the slight edge for his athletic and dominant displays thus far. Kamario Taylor has looked like a freak of nature and created an offensive spectacle at MSU that has not been accomplished since Dak Prescott. He will have some growing pains at some point, which already showed in his fumble that resulted in Minnesota scoring its only touchdown in Week 2, but it is challenging to argue against Taylor being the top quarterback in the conference after his showings in just his third and fourth starts of his college career.
2. Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss
Stats: 561 PASS YDS | 71.0% COMP | 5 PASS TD | 1 INT | 12 CAR | 62 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD
From Ferris State to leading the Ole Miss Rebels to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff last season, Trinidad Chambliss has been one of the most impressive athletes in college football. His mentality, football intelligence and ability to make magical plays are why he could solidify himself as one of the top quarterbacks in this year's draft class. He is already an Ole Miss legend, but he could solidify his legacy with a successful outing against former head coach Lane Kiffin and the LSU Tigers this weekend.
3. Gunner Stockton - Georgia
Stats: 436 PASS YDS | 87.5% COMP | 8 PASS TD | 1 CAR | 3 RUSH YDS
In his second season as Georgia's starting quarterback, Gunner Stockton has played lights out. The senior gunslinger has just four incompletions in 32 attempts in the first two games, leading the SEC with an 87.5 completion percentage and ranking first nationally with a 284.45 quarterback rating. Many games remain on the docket, but Stockton is solidifying himself as one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the nation so far.
4. Austin Simmons - Missouri
Stats: 544 PASS YDS | 75.0% COMP | 7 PASS TD | 4 CAR | 6 YDS
Ranked third in completion percentage and fourth in passing yards in the SEC, Austin Simmons has been putting on a show in his first two contests as a Missouri Tiger. Simmons transferred to Columbia after spending two seasons under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss. The one thing the Tigers have lacked over the last few years is a consistent gunslinger who can take command of the offense. If Simmons can maintain this success in conference play, he could continue giving defensive coordinators nightmares in 2026.
5. Arch Manning - Texas
Stats: 500 PASS YDS | 67.2% COMP | 5 PASS TD | 2 INT | 11 CAR | 30 YDS
Arch Manning secured the most massive win of his career over No. 1 Ohio State in Week 2, but he still has a long way to go before he can lead this team to more historic heights in 2026. The Longhorns' offensive mistakes against the Buckeyes were not all Manning's fault. There were various dropped passes and blown routes from his receivers that could have resulted in massive plays for Texas, but elite quarterbacks are able to make things happen despite that. There are some giant tasks ahead of Manning in the coming week, which will unveil more about what he can achieve in this year.
6. LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina
Stats: 366 PASS YDS | 63.0% COMP | 3 PASS TD | 1 INT | 9 CAR | 120 RUSH YDS | 1 RUSH TD
It is difficult to judge a quarterback and an offense against two lesser non-conference opponents to start the year, but LaNorris Sellers has looked solid. He has the experience, athleticism and arm talent to be at the top of this list by the end of the season if he improves his consistency and decision-making, something Sellers has struggled to accomplish at times. After facing Kent State and Towson, Sellers ranks 11th in the SEC with a 63.0 completion percentage and 15th with 366 passing yards. While his playing time has been limited due to South Carolina's dominance against non-conference opponents, he must prove he can shine in big moments to move up the rankings and get the Gamecocks where they want to be as a program.
7. Faizon Brandon - Tennessee
Stats: 374 PASS YDS | 60.5% COMP | 5 PASS TD | 15 CAR | 90 RUSH YDS | 2 RUSH TD
Starting as a true freshman quarterback in the SEC is no easy task, but Faizon Brandon has performed brilliantly for the Tennessee Volunteers in his first two collegiate contests. Brandon is a dangerous dual-threat and will only improve with reps and experience. We will learn more about what the freshman gunslinger is made of next Saturday, when the Vols host the No. 1 Texas Longhorns at Neyland Stadium.
8. Marcel Reed - Texas A&M
Stats: 396 PASS YDS | 65.5% COMP | 5 PASS TD | 1 INT | 14 CAR | 37 YDS
Marcel Reed has strung together two solid performances to start the season, but the short game inconsistencies reared their ugly head in the 48-20 win over Arizona State on Saturday. The Nashville, Tennessee, native is one of the SEC's most athletic quarterbacks, a massive advantage Texas A&M must use more often. While the offensive line has struggled to give Reed time in the pocket, it is the little things like short-pass accuracy and going through his progressions that he needs to improve for him to succeed and improve as a quarterback for the Aggies.
9. Sam Leavitt - LSU
Stats: 574 PASS YDS | 62.1% COMP | 2 PASS TD | 4 INT | 23 CAR | 135 RUSH YDS | 5 RUSH TD
Despite speculation that his ankle injury suffered at Arizona State last season would carry over into 2026, Sam Leavitt has performed well through the first two games with the LSU Tigers. Leavitt ranks second in the conference with 574 passing yards, but also ranks first with four interceptions, which is the most he has thrown through two games in his collegiate career. We will learn more about how talented Leavitt could be for LSU in Week 3, as they travel to Oxford, Mississippi, for the massive matchup against No. 8 Ole Miss.
10. Keelon Russell - Alabama
Stats: 444 PASS YDS | 64.2% COMP | 1 PASS TD | 2 INT | 21 CAR | 77 YDS | 1 RUSH TD
During the offseason and into fall camp, the biggest unknown about the Alabama Crimson Tide resided at quarterback. Since being named the starter, sophomore Keelon Russell has flashed his athleticism and arm talent, leading his team to a 2-0 record, including a 45-17 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats in Week 2. However, Russell also showed his inexperience with some shaky moments in his first SEC road start. If he can remain poised and collected moving forward, he has the talent to move up this list quickly.
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This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Ranking the top 10 SEC quarterbacks entering Week 3
