5 Best SEC QB Matchups in 2026: Chambliss vs. Manning and More
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The SEC is home to some of the biggest names at quarterback in college football. There’s Arch Manning at Texas, the projected No. 1 overall pick (again). Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss was the breakout star of the 2025 season, and his offseason legal saga won him another season in college. And LSU transfer signal-caller Sam Leavitt was the highest-rated player in the transfer portal, adding another star under center to a conference full of them.
This high concentration of quarterback talent is a dream for fans and scouts alike. And while the aforementioned names are some of the more established SEC starters, there’s potential for breakouts at other programs, including a few who have yet to name their QB1.
Athlon Sports identified the five best SEC quarterback matchups to watch in 2026. Talent was considered when coming up with this ranking, which has a few repeat appearances. But rivalries and recent history between teams and players were taken into account as well.
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Trinidad Chambliss vs. Arch Manning
Ole Miss at Texas (Oct. 24)
This is the first meeting between the Rebels and Longhorns since the latter joined the SEC. And it’s sure to take on some extra meaning with Arch Manning under center for Texas against Ole Miss, the alma mater of his uncle Eli and grandfather and namesake, Archie.
Trinidad Chambliss and Manning are arguably the top two quarterbacks in the SEC. They both earned spots on Athlon’s All-SEC teams and are among the favorites for the Heisman Trophy. But they could not have been in more different situations this time last year.
Manning entered the 2025 season as a Heisman hopeful and the star of the No. 1 team in the nation. Chambliss was a Division II transfer and second-stringer for a playoff sleeper. But when the season ended, Ole Miss made the CFP semifinals while Texas was left outside looking in.
Chambliss has the talent to lead the Rebels back to the postseason, which he demonstrated in his first season at the FBS level. He’ll have to be at his best against an elite Longhorns defense. Manning was better than many remember in his first full year as the starter. He, too, will have to be on point against coach Pete Golding’s defense. The timing of this game — two weeks before the first CFP rankings on Nov. 3 — only raises the stakes.
Arch Manning vs. John Mateer
Texas vs. Oklahoma (Oct. 10 in Dallas)
No books will be written about the 2025 Red River Rivalry. It was another Longhorns rout, but both offenses have had better days. Texas rolled to a 23-6 triumph in Manning’s first appearance in the rivalry. He played well enough, tallying exactly 200 total yards and one touchdown. Crucially, he didn’t make any mistakes.
John Mateer rushed back from thumb surgery to play in this game. Given the way it went, another week on the mend might have done him and the Sooners well. He completed just over half of his pass attempts, was largely ineffective as a runner and tossed three interceptions. That was a far cry from the version of him that took the SEC by storm last September.
There’s something about Mateer that invites comparisons to OU legend Baker Mayfield. The Sooners fared better against the Longhorns during Mayfield’s days in Norman. Perhaps a healthy Mateer can turn the tide of a rivalry that’s been lopsided as of late.
On the other hand, Manning has a chance to finish his career as Texas’ starter undefeated in the Red River Rivalry if this is indeed his last year in college. He was turnover-free last time out against coach Brent Venables’ defense. To make matters more interesting, wide receiver Parker Livingstone, Manning’s former roommate and one of his top targets, transferred to Oklahoma in the offseason to team up with Mateer.
Marcel Reed vs. LaNorris Sellers
Texas A&M at South Carolina (Nov. 7)
It’s rare to get a third meeting between two starting quarterbacks these days, but LaNorris Sellers-Marcel Reed Pt. 3 is coming to Williams-Brice Stadium this fall. Let’s revisit the wild history between these multi-year starters.
Texas A&M was 7-1 with a playoff berth in their sights back in 2024 before a road trip to South Carolina. The Gamecocks were 4-3 and staring down a difficult remaining schedule. Sellers came to life that day. He outdueled Reed and accounted for over 300 yards of offense and three total touchdowns in a shocking 44-20 blowout.
The following season, it looked like South Carolina was about to spoil the Aggies’ season again. A 9-0 Texas A&M team found itself down 30-3 at halftime at Kyle Field. Sellers threw touchdowns of 50 and 80 yards to blow the game open. But Reed slowly started chipping away. He erupted for a career-high 439 passing yards and ignited a comeback for the ages. The Gamecocks went scoreless in the second half. The Aggies went on to win, 31-30, to stay undefeated and essentially secure their spot in the CFP.
What might this year’s meeting hold? Texas A&M is expected to contend for a spot in the playoff yet again, while South Carolina coach Shane Beamer finds himself on the hot seat. The timing is crucial for the Aggies, whose season ends with four top-20 teams in the final five weeks. The Gamecocks are the lone reprieve during that gauntlet, but evidently they cannot be overlooked.
Gunner Stockton vs. Trinidad Chambliss
Georgia at Ole Miss (Nov. 7)
Like the matchup mentioned above, this will be the third time Gunner Stockton and Chambliss share the field. The Bulldogs and Rebels met twice last year, once in the regular season and again in the CFP. And other than Alabama, no SEC team has given Georgia problems in recent years quite like Ole Miss.
The Bulldogs won that first meeting at home, 43-35. Stockton accounted for five total touchdowns and led a fourth-quarter comeback to quiet the hype around an ascendant Rebels squad led by Chambliss, who had three scores of his own.
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Ole Miss got its revenge two months later in a Sugar Bowl shootout. That regular-season matchup was top of mind when the Rebels drew SEC champion Georgia in the CFP quarterfinal. Chambliss played inspired, setting a new season-high with 362 passing yards in the biggest game of his life. And after the Bulldogs tied the game up late, he led a quick drive to set up the go-ahead field goal in the final minute of a 39-34 win.
Stockton is flying under the radar compared to Chambliss, but he’s every bit a Heisman candidate, too. This game falling so late in the season means there will be award implications just as much as CFP positioning at stake. Heading into November, this could be the hardest remaining game on either team’s schedule.
Sam Leavitt vs. Byrum Brown
LSU at Auburn (Oct. 24)
Just as Lane Kiffin and Alex Golesh were hired to turn things around at LSU and Auburn, respectively, both coaches put their trust in Sam Leavitt and Byrum Brown to make that happen in Year 1.
There was no prior relationship between Kiffin and Leavitt, but evidently the offensive guru — nicknamed the Portal King for a reason – liked what he saw from the dual-threat quarterback across two seasons at Arizona State. Leavitt led the Sun Devils to the CFP in 2024. While LSU hasn’t been back since 2019, that will be the expectation this season. Leavitt was banged up last season and was limited to seven games, but the Tigers’ new supporting cast assembled around him was designed to protect him and maximize his talent.
Golesh and Brown, on the other hand, go way back. Brown’s breakout coincided with Golesh’s arrival at USF in 2023, and he spent three seasons starring in his offense. The 2025 season was the most fruitful, as Brown threw for over 3,000 yards, ran for more than 1,000 and tallied 42 total touchdowns. He and Golesh have had success against SEC opponents together, too.
Many of the SEC’s best starters have been entrenched in their jobs for at least a year, if not more. But Leavitt and Brown threaten to vault up the pecking order right away. The timing of this game is advantageous for LSU, which has a bye the following week before a pivotal stretch. As for Auburn, this game is in the midst of a four-game stretch against top-20 teams. If the Tigers are going to get back to a bowl game, they have to protect home field.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Aug 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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