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SEC Quarterback Rankings: Nussmeier Leads After Week 1 Shakeup

Sep 2, 2025 | 10:00 AM

Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

By Chris Marler

It’s that time of year again, the first edition of the SEC Quarterback Power Rankings.

These rankings are based solely on on-field performance, not projections or fan bias. And yes, they’ll shift week to week. Read on and react however you’d like.

16. Zach Calzada, Kentucky
15. Arch Manning, Texas
14. Ty Simpson, Alabama
13. Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
12. Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
11. Gunner Stockton, Georgia

10. Austin Simmons, Ole Miss 

He had a few interceptions early, which is not how he wanted to start the year. However, he bounced back nicely and torched Georgia State for 341 yards and three touchdowns. 

9. Jackson Arnold, Auburn 

The scariest part of Auburn is that they haven’t even had to dive into the part of their offense where they are most dangerous, and that’s throwing the ball. They still boast one of the nation’s top three-to-five receiver groups, right up there with Ohio State and LSU. But when you can run the ball at will on the road against a Power Four opponent, and with Jackson Arnold now leading the SEC in rushing, that’s an entirely different level of dangerous.

8. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M 

Texas A&M may have some defensive issues after allowing 24 points to UTSA. What they don’t have is an issue at quarterback. All offseason long, Marcel Reed heard doubts about his passing ability. In Week 1, he proved otherwise and looked sharp through the air. He finished with a 64.7 completion percentage, 338 yards of offense and four passing touchdowns. Not bad for a one dimensional runner. 

7. John Mateer, Oklahoma

Count me in as a believer in Mateer. Yes, Oklahoma faced an overmatched FCS opponent, but his debut was the best for a Sooner QB since Baker Mayfield. Mateer completed over 80 percent of his passes and finished with four scores in Week 1. 

6. Beau Pribula, Missouri

Admittedly, I don’t know if Pribula will last in this spot, but he deserves to be this high after Week 1. The Penn State transfer finished Thursday’s game 23-of-28 with 348 yards and four scores. Most importantly, he had zero turnovers, but it was the explosiveness in the passing game that stood out the most, averaging over ten yards per attempt.

5. DJ Lagway, Florida 

Lagway was healthy, accurate and as elite as anyone could have hoped against Long Island. The sophomore sensation answered a lot of questions about his accuracy against the LIU sharks, completing 83.3 percent of his passes and throwing three touchdowns with no interceptions. That may not sound impressive ]considering the competition. However, for someone who completed under 60 percent of his throws last year, leading the entire conference in completion percentage after one week is phenomenal work. 

4. Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt  

Pavia is the most consistent quarterback in this conference. That was obvious last year when he finished the season with 28 touchdowns and four interceptions. He is almost automatic to get the Commodores two touchdowns and no turnovers every time he takes the field. In Week 1 he was exceptional, finishing 20-of-25 with 275 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. 

3. Taylen Green, Arkansas 

If it weren’t for two future top ten NFL Draft picks, one could make the case for Green being in the No. 1 spot after Saturday’s performance. Green was awesome most of last season, and has been a human highlight reel everywhere he’s been in college. Saturday was special, though. Green tied an Arkansas quarterback record with six touchdowns, had 363 yards of offense and completed 77.4 percent of his passes. 

2. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina 

Sellers has been one of the best quarterbacks in the country since the Alabama game last season. All offseason long, critics questioned his ability to throw the football. The stats and hours of tape proved otherwise, but that never seemed to silence the doubters.

Sellers was sharp through the air against Virginia Tech, even with multiple drops from his receivers and a questionable call that overturned a touchdown to Nyck Harbor. He also showed why he is the most dynamic quarterback in America with his legs and physicality over and over against a Virginia Tech defense that wanted no part of tackling him in the fourth quarter. 

1. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU 

I ranked Nussmeier No. 2 in my offseason quarterback rankings, not as a knock on his talent, but because I was also very high on LaNorris Sellers. While I still am, Nussmeier’s performance Saturday proved he deserves this spot.

Nussmeier went on the road and faced what was supposed to be, and might still be, one of the best defenses in the country. Clemson featured up to four potential first round picks on that side of the ball, and Nussmeier diced them up for 60 minutes. 

He finished with a 74 percent completion percentage and 232 yards. That’s not including several drops and one of the worst no catch calls I’ve ever seen from an officiating crew. What was most impressive from No. 18, though, was his ability to read and stay one step ahead of Clemson’s defense all night. This may very well be a very special season for the senior in Baton Rouge. 

Chris Marler

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