SEC QB rankings: Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell leading next-gen conference takeover

SEC QB rankings: Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell leading next-gen conference takeover

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SEC QB rankings: Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell leading next-gen conference takeover
Gunnar Stockton, Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell

SEC QB rankings: Kamario Taylor, Keelon Russell leading next-gen conference takeover originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Mississippi State's Kamario Taylor and Alabama's Keelon Russell have made quite the impression in the first month of the season. 

Consider that neither quarterback was on our Top 25 QBs for 2026 released on May 29. To be fair, Taylor had a limited sample size on a 5-8 team last year and Russell was battling for a starting job in fall camp. We admit we missed on both, and it's OK. 

The quarterback matchup between Taylor and Russell is the highlight of the Week 5 schedule. No. 7 Alabama travels to No. 16 Mississippi State at 12 p.m. ET on Saturday in what should be the best game of the week between two of the best QBs in the SEC. 

Taylor leads the SEC with 14 TD passes, and he ranks second with 1,192 passing yards. The Bulldogs have become must-see TV as a result. Russell – a former five-star recruit – ranks third in the SEC with 1,129 passing yards – and he is working on back-to-back 300-yard games heading into the matchup in Starkville, Miss.  

If the SEC truly is developing into a version of NFL Lite, then the quarterback matchups will continue to be the lead storyline the rest of the season. The matchup with Taylor and Russell is one of those examples. 

How deep is the QB class in the SEC? How much have the rankings changed from the preseason. Here is a re-rank of the SEC quarterbacks – from No. 16 to No. 1 – heading into October.

MORE: The September Heisman goes to …

SEC QB rankings for Week 5 

16. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M 

Stats: 738 pass yards, 55.4%, 6 TDs, 4 INTs; 104 rush yards, 1 TD 

It's been a battle for Reed – who has struggled with turnovers in a 2-2 start for the Aggies with new offensive coordinator Holmon Wiggins. Reed is now 17-8 as a starter with coach Mike Elko, and he gets a chance to get back on track against Arkansas in Week 5.

15. K.J. Jackson, Arkansas 

Stats: 927 pass yards, 62.1%, 5 TDs, 3 INTs, 79 rush yards, 2 TDs 

Jackson is part of a rebuild at Arkansas with first-year coach Ryan Silverfield, and he had just one turnover in the losses to No. 13 Utah and No. 2 Georgia. He is coming off a 34-6 victory against Tulsa where the junior totaled 348 yards and three total TDs.

14. John Mateer, Oklahoma 

Stats: 883 passing yards, 66.1%, 8 TDs, 4 INTs; 76 rush yards, 0 TDs 

The Mateer-led Sooners have scored just 29 points in the last three weeks against Michigan, New Mexico and Georgia. Mateer has committed six turnovers – including four interceptions and two fumbles. Three of those turnovers have led to TDs by the opposing team. Given the expectations coming into the season – this is a massive flop so far. 

13. Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt 

Stats: 746 yards, 64.3%, 4 TDs, 3 INTs; 133 yards, 2 TDs 

It's early for the five-star freshman – and there are expected growing pains with the Commodores that will continue against Georgia in Week 5. Curtis is 14 of 36 (38.9%) for 377 passing yards with three TDs and three INTs on passes of 10 yards or more, according to PFF.com. He'll move up this list by the end of the season. 

MORE: Week 5 picks against the spread for Top 25 games

12. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Stats: 833 yards, 62.1%, 6 TDs, 4 INTs; 233 rush yards, 1 TD 

Sellers has better protection this year – but he ranks 12th in the SEC in passer rating at 132.8. That's why this is the right spot for Sellers, who averaged 233.5 passing yards with three TDs and three interceptions in losses to Alabama and Mississippi State the last two weeks. Sellers remains an intriguing 2027 NFL Draft prospect – but he needs to elevate his game in order to be a first-round pick. 

11. Byrum Brown, Auburn 

Stats: 896 passing yards, 65.1%, 6 TDs, 5 INTs; 237 yards, 3 TDs 

Brown took seven sacks in the Week 3 loss to Florida – which has skewed an otherwise solid first month with Alex Golesh at Auburn. Brown averages 15.5 carries per game and also maintained a similar completion percentage to what he had at South Florida last season – but he ranks 15th in the SEC in passer rating. 

10. Faizon Brandon, Tennessee 

Stats: 697 yards, 62.4%, 7 TDs, 0 INTs; 139 rush yards, 3 TDs 

Brandon took 10 sacks on 23 pressures in the 20-17 loss to No. 1 Texas in Week 4 – the first hitch in an otherwise great start for the five-star freshman quarterback at No. 17 Tennessee. Brandon has a 54% completion percentage in two games against Power 4 schools, but he will continue to improve in Josh Heupel's quarterback-friendly offense. He is a solid quarterback when kept clean. Brandon gets a chance to bounce back against Auburn in Week 5.

MORE: Takeaways from Saturday's slew of Top 25 matchups

9. Kenny Minchey, Kentucky 

Stats: 876 pass yards, 68.3%, 8 TDs, 1 INT; -13 rush yards, 0 TDs 

Minchey – a Notre Dame transfer – has shown development under first-year coach Will Stein, where the Wildcats are 3-1. Minchey is 13 of 27 (48.1%) on passes of 10 yards or more with four TDs and no interceptions – and that comfort in the vertical passing game will improve as the season progresses. Minchey has taken eight sacks and does not scramble much. It's still a solid start. 

Arch Manning

Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

8. Arch Manning, Texas  

Stats: 862 pass yards, 63.5%, 7 TDs, 3 INTs; 82 rush yards, 0 TDs 

Try not to overreact. This isn't an indictment on Manning – who has scored major victories against No. 5 Ohio State and Tennessee in leading Texas through September. Manning is 23 of 43 (53.5%) on passes of 10 yards or more with seven TDs and three interceptions. He's improved as a second-year starter – and the competition is noted – but he has taken 10 sacks through four games. This also speaks to the quality of QBs in the conference. 

7. Aaron Philo, Florida 

Stats: 917 yards, 64.6%, 7 TDs, 2 INTs, 69 rush yards, 3 TDs 

Philo does have the benefit of Jadan Baugh-led run support for No. 8 Florida. The Gators rank 11th in the FBS with a rushing attack that averages 260 yards per game. Phllo averaged 200 passing yards with a 68.9% completion percentage, two TDs and one interception in the victories against Auburn and Ole Miss. He's just outside the top five for now. 

6. Austin Simmons, Missouri 

Stats: 947 pass yards, 11 TDs, 0 INTs, 1 rush yard, 0 TDs 

Simmons played well in the victory against Kansas and the loss to Mississippi State. He averaged 293.5 passing yards with six TDs and no interceptions in those games. He ranks fifth in the SEC with a 174.1 passer rating, and despite the loss to Mississippi State in Week 5 the Tigers will be a tough out in conference play. Simmons is 9 of 16 (47.4%) for 247 yards, five TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more. He is playing just as good as the elite QBs in the conference.

5. Sam Leavitt, LSU 

Stats: 1,044 pass yards, 63.8%, 5 TDs, 6 INTs; 220 rush yards, 6 TDs 

Leavitt has dealt with shoulder and hamstring injuries early in the season – but his all-out style has made an impression with Lane Kiffin in Year 1 at No. 11 LSU. He has two 300-yard games and is coming off his most-efficient performance in a 35-6 blowout against Texas A&M in Week 4. He had a season-low five rushing attempts in that game. The injuries are a concern, but he's played well so far. 

MORE: College Football Playoff forecast entering Week 5

4. Gunner Stockton, Georgia 

Stats: 754 pass yards, 74.3%, 10 TDs, 1 INT; 100 rush yards, 

Stockton leads the SEC with a 209.4 passer rating, though you could argue the Bulldogs haven't played tough competition. Stockton has a 63.1% completion percentage in two SEC games, and he'll be pressed to make more plays as Georgia's schedule progresses. He's been great in the play-action game – hitting 18 of 24 passes for 300 yards and five TDs with no interceptions. When Kirby Smart's QBs play like this, good things happen. 

3. Keelon Russell, Alabama 

Stats: 1,129 pass yards, 70.9%, 8 TDs, 2 INTs; 168 rush yards, 3 TDs 

Russell has improved with each start under Kalen DeBoer – and the five-star talent is materializing into a potential Heisman finalist. Russell had back-to-back 300-yard games against Florida State and South Carolina. He's 14 of 20 (70%) on passes of 20 yards or more and has eight runs of 10 yards or more. It's an emerging skill-set that will be on display in the matchup with Taylor at Mississippi State in Week 5. 

2. Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss 

Stats: 1,222 pass yards, 70.8%, 8 TDs, 3 INTs; 108 rush yards, 4 TDs 

Chambliss was our top QB entering the season, and despite the 52-28 loss to No. 8 Florida in Week 4, the senior has lived up to expectations as one of the faces of college football. Chambliss still has the signature victory against LSU, leads the SEC in passing yards and will get chances at Texas and Georgia – not to mention the Egg Bowl against Mississippi State – to get back into the Heisman Trophy mix. 

1. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State 

Stats: 1,192 pass yards, 69.2%, 14 TDs, 2 INTs; 185 yards, 1 TD 

Taylor has become the darling of college football QBs through the first month of the season, and with good reason. He's 10 of 21 (47.6%) with 367 yards, seven TDs and zero interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more, according to PFF.com. That highlight-reel package of long-distance TDs is part of the experience, and he picks his spot in the running game with 5.0 yards per carry.

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