Where Keelon Russell sits in latest SEC quarterback power rankings

Where Keelon Russell sits in latest SEC quarterback power rankings

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Where Keelon Russell sits in latest SEC quarterback power rankings

We're through the first month of the season, everyone has started SEC conference play, and things are starting to come into shape.

This past week, we had seven SEC matchups, and we have six more this week. Several SEC quarterbacks have put their names right in the middle of the early Heisman Trophy discussions, a group which features Alabama's Keelon Russell.

With all that being said, here is the first edition of my SEC quarterback power rankings coming out of the loaded Week 4 slate.

16. KJ Jackson, Arkansas Razorbacks

Sep 5, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback KJ Jackson (7) awaits a snap during the fourth quarter against the North Alabama Lions at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

It appears that KJ Jackson has locked back down the QB1 job at Arkansas after two weeks of splitting time with AJ Hill. A lot of people had Arkansas on upset alert against Tulsa, but the Razorbacks played their best game of the season (as did Jackson) in a 34-6 win. Jackson went 24-of-36 passing for 309 passing yards, 29 rushing yards, three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing), and one interception. For the season, Jackson has a 62.1% completion percentage with 927 passing yards, 79 rushing yards, seven total TD's (five passing, two rushing), and three interceptions.

15. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M Aggies

Aggies Quarterback Marcel Reed 10, The LSU Tigers take on the Texas A&M Aggies. September 19, 2026; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; at Tiger Stadium.

It was a forgettable evening Saturday night all-around for Texas A&M as they lost to LSU 35-6. Marcel Reed finished the game 10-of-26 through the air for 106 yards, no touchdowns, and one pick. For the season, Reed has a 55.4% completion percentage for 738 passing yards, 104 rushing yards, seven total TD's (six passing, one rushing), and four interceptions. The talent is there for Reed, but he has not put it all together so far this season.

14. John Mateer, Oklahoma Sooners

Sep 19, 2026; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) runs with the ball as New Mexico Lobos safety Austin Brawley (0) defends during the first quarter at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

It was an odd day for Mateer and Oklahoma on Saturday in a 41-13 loss to Georgia. Mateer and OU were able to move the ball, but it was costly turnovers that did them in. Mateer was 25-of-34 passing for 231 yards and one touchdown, while he turned the ball over three times (one interception, two fumbles (one of which was a backbreaking 85 yard scoop-and-score for Georgia)). For the season, he has a 66.1% completion percentage, 883 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, four interceptions, and 76 rushing yards.

13. Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt Commodores quarterback Jared Curtis (2) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Vanderbilt Commodores at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026. Auburn Tigers lead Vanderbilt Commodores 14-3 at halftime.

True freshman Jared Curtis made his second career start on Saturday in a 21-15 loss to Auburn, as Curtis now has the full reigns of the quarterback position in Nashville. On Saturday, Curtis was 22-of-33 passing with 199 passing yards, 46 rushing yards, and one pick. For the year, Curtis has a 64.3% completion percentage, 746 passing yards, 133 rushing yards, six total touchdowns (four passing, two rushing), and three picks.

12. Faizon Brandon, Tennessee Volunteers

Sep 26, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) passes against the Texas Longhorns during the second half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

Brandon was hounded by the Texas defensive line in a 20-17 loss on Saturday, which is not all on his shoulders. It was a very tough spot for a true freshman making his fourth career start to be in. For the game, he was 17-of-29 passing for 145 yards and one touchdown. For the season, Brandon has completed 62.4% of his passes for 697 passing yards, 139 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns (seven passing, three rushing), and has yet to throw an interception.

11. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks

Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks quarterback LaNorris Sellers (16) passes the ball during the second quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina were able to move the ball at times against Alabama, but struggled to finish drives in a 49-18 loss to the Tide. Sellers ended up going 18-of-30 for 185 passing yards and 72 rushing yards with one touchdown and one interception, a pick-six. For the season, he is completing 62.1% of his passes for 833 passing yards, 244 rushing yards, seven total touchdowns (six passing, one rushing), and four picks.

10. Byrum Brown, Auburn Tigers

Auburn Tigers quarterback Byrum Brown (17) throws the ball as Auburn Tigers take on Southern Miss Golden Eagles at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. Auburn Tigers lead Southern Miss Golden Eagles 27-8 at halftime.

Auburn got a much-needed 21-15 over Vanderbilt on Saturday, in which it was a mixed bag for Brown. He was 18-of-27 through the air with 140 passing yards, 57 rushing yards, two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing), and a pick. For the season, Brown has a 65.1% completion percentage, 896 passing yards, nine total touchdowns (six passing, three rushing), 237 rushing yards and five picks.

9. Sam Leavitt, LSU Tigers

Tigers Quarterback Sam Leavitt 10, The Ole Miss Rebels take on the LSU Tigers. September 19, 2026; Oxford, MS, USA; at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Sam Leavitt has arguably his best performance of the season on Saturday as LSU blew out Texas A&M 35-6. Leavitt was 17-of-23 passing for 312 passing yards, two scores, and a pick (also added 22 rushing yards). The story for Leavitt continues to be whether he can avoid the turnovers. For the season, he has a 63.9% completion percentage, 1,044 passing yards, 11 total touchdowns (five passing, six rushing), six picks, and 220 rushing yards.

8. Kenny Minchey, Kentucky Wildcats

Sep 26, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Kenny Minchey (3) throws a pass during the third quarter against the South Alabama Jaguars at Kroger Field. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

Kentucky had a slow start in their 45-21 win over South Alabama and they leaned on their run game, but Minchey's numbers were still fine (19-of-25 for 177 pass yards and a touchdown), although not the flashiest. For the season, Minchey is completing 68.3% of his passes with 876 pass yards, eight pass touchdowns, and a pick for the Wildcats.

7. Austin Simmons, Missouri Tigers

Sep 26, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Austin Simmons (13) passes the ball during the third quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

It's easy to forget that Austin Simmons beat out Trinidad Chambliss coming out of fall camp last year at Ole Miss. In his first season in CoMo, Simmons has shown that potential. In Saturday's 31-24 loss to Mississippi State, Simmons was 23-of-39 through the air with 295 passing yards and three touchdowns. For the season, he has completed 65.4% of his passes for 947 passing yards and 11 scores. Simmons has yet to throw an interception this season.

6. Aaron Philo, Florida Gators

Sep 26, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Aaron Philo (12) throws against Mississippi Rebels cornerback Jaylon Braxton (2) and linebacker Keaton Thomas (11) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Philo and the upstart Gators have been one of the stories of the college football season so far, which included a big 52-28 win over Ole Miss on Saturday. Philo was 16-of-23 with 196 passing yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) on Saturday. For the season, Philo has completed 72.4% of his passes with 917 passing yards, 69 rushing yards, 10 total touchdowns (seven passing, three rushing), and two picks.

5. Arch Manning, Texas Longhorns

Sep 26, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) passes Tennessee Volunteers during the first half at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-Imagn Images

It was a defensive battle as Texas knocked off Tennessee 20-17 on Saturday. Arch continues to show flashes, even if the full display has not been here yet. On Saturday, Manning went 14-of-19 for 201 pass yards. He threw one interception and did not have a touchdown. For the season, he has a 63.5% completion percentage with 862 pass yards, seven passing touchdowns, three picks, and also 82 rushing yards.

4. Gunner Stockton, Georgia Bulldogs

Sep 26, 2026; Athens, Georgia, USA; Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Gunner Stockton (14) drops back to pass against the Oklahoma Sooners during the first half at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Gunner Stockton has played just eight full quarters this season and has yet to have to finish a game due to Georgia winning all of their first four games by at least 28 points. So the raw numbers are not there yet for Stockton, but the efficiency and effectiveness have been through the roof. In fact, through the first three weeks, Stockton had more touchdowns than incompletions. On Saturday in Georgia's 41-13 win over Oklahoma, Stockton was 14-of-25 passing with 171 pass yards, a touchdown, and a pick. For the season, Stockton is completing 74.3% of his passes with 754 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, 10 pass touchdowns, and an interception.

3. Keelon Russell, Alabama Crimson Tide

Sep 26, 2026; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Keelon Russell (12) throws a deep pass during the first quarter against the South Carolina Gamecocks at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Keelon Russell has started to put himself in not just the conversation for the top quarterback in the SEC, but nationally as well. Arguably no one in the country has played better the last two weeks than Keelon Russell. In Saturday's blowout 49-18 win over South Carolina, Russell was 21-of-27 through the air for 365 passing yards, 35 rushing yards, and five total touchdowns (four passing, one rushing). For the season, Russell has a 70.9% completion percentage, 1,129 passing yards, 168 rushing yards, 11 total touchdowns (eight passing, three rushing), and two picks.

2. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Sep 26, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Kamario Taylor (1) drops back to pass during the second quarter against the Missouri Tigers at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Kamario Taylor breakout has been in full affect through the first month of the season as Taylor and Mississippi State have jumped into the national conversation. In Saturday's thrilling 31-24 win over Missouri, Taylor had his most human performance of the season so far, but still had a big day. He was 27-of-38 passing with 360 passing yards, three touchdowns, and a pick. For the season, Taylor has a 69.2% completion percentage for 1,192 passing yards, 185 rushing yards, 15 total touchdowns (14 passing, one rushing), and two picks.

1. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss Rebels

Mississippi quarterback Trinidad Chambliss (6) passes during the first half an NCAA football game against Mississippi at Steve Spurrier Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 26, 2026. [Alan Youngblood/Gainesville Sun]

Trinidad Chambliss has picked right up early this season where he left off last year as one of the best and most dangerous quarterbacks in the country. Saturday was a tough outing for Ole Miss as a whole as they fell 52-28 to Florida, but that had little to do with Chambliss. Chambliss was 25-of-34 for 298 passing yards with one passing touchdown and a pick. He also had 44 rushing yards and two rushing scores. For the season, Chambliss has a 70.8% completion percentage, 1,222 passing yards, 12 total touchdowns (eight passing, four rushing), 108 rushing yards, and three picks.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.

This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Where Keelon Russell sits in latest SEC quarterback power rankings

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos