The SEC has long been college football’s premier proving ground for quarterbacks.
From Heisman winners to first-round NFL Draft picks, the conference has consistently produced some of the sport’s biggest stars at the position. Entering the 2026 season, the SEC once again features a talented group of quarterbacks capable of shaping the national championship race.
These are the five quarterbacks with the biggest opportunity to define the conference this season.
No quarterback in the country enters 2026 with more attention surrounding him than Manning. After showing flashes during his first season as Texas’ full-time starter, Manning enters the year as a Heisman Trophy favorite and one of the top candidates to be the first quarterback selected in the 2027 NFL Draft.
With elite arm talent, mobility and one of college football’s biggest brands behind him, Manning has the opportunity to become the face of the sport.
Sellers has quickly developed into one of the SEC’s most dangerous quarterbacks. The South Carolina star possesses the traits NFL scouts covet: size, athleticism, arm strength and the ability to create explosive plays with his legs.
Sellers established himself as one of the conference’s top dual-threat quarterbacks in 2024, but had a down season in 2025. A bounce-back season could put Sellers into the Heisman conversation and back atop NFL Draft boards.
3. Trinidad Chambliss — Ole Miss
Chambliss was one of the biggest stories in college football last season. After transferring from Division II Ferris State, he led Ole Miss on a College Football Playoff run, earned All-SEC honors and became one of the sport’s most talked-about players.
Entering 2026, Chambliss is no longer a surprise. He enters the season as a legitimate national contender and one of the most intriguing quarterbacks in the country.
Georgia has built a championship program around elite quarterback play, and Stockton has the opportunity to continue that tradition. While he may not receive the same preseason attention as Manning, Sellers or Chambliss, Stockton will benefit from playing behind one of the nation’s most talented rosters. If he takes another step forward, he could quickly move up this list.
Mateer rounds out the top five because of his experience and playmaking ability. Oklahoma will rely on him to lead the Sooners through another difficult SEC schedule, and his combination of arm talent and athleticism has already made him one of the conference’s most intriguing quarterback prospects.
