Ranking the top quarterbacks in the SEC for 2025

Going into the SEC this fall, the conference will be looking to breed quite a few new full-time quarterbacks along with some returning stars ready to see their stock rise.

With at least eight passers that could’ve been included in the top five of the ranking, it just shows just how unpredictable this season could be.

No. 5 Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt’s heart and soul led them to a shocking upset of then No. 1 Alabama, becoming a Johnny Manziel clone early on last season. He looks to duplicate a performance which saw Pavia post 2,293 passing yards, 20 touchdowns with another 800 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.

Pavia made his fair share of electric plays capping off the season with a Birmingham Bowl victory which saw him score five touchdowns. Gifted with an extra year of eligibility, his grit and mobility could keep the Commodores trending upwards under coach Clark Lea.

No. 4 DJ Lagaway, Florida

The former 5-star was inserted into the starting role when Graham Mertz went down to an injury. Lagway became a star in Gainesville rather quickly flashing for a 400-yard passing day against Samford and continued to develop with signature wins against LSU and Ole Miss to close the season.

He completed 115-of-192 passes for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and another nine interceptions. The freshman phenom tacked on another 100 yards on the ground displaying the ability to scramble under duress.

No. 3 Arch Manning

If any single player in the country has the most pressure to perform up to the standards set by his family, recruiting ranking, hype and NIL prospects its the Longhorns new passer. In just 232 snaps last season, Manning scored 13 total touchdowns and just two interceptions.

He goes into the season with plenty of key returners hopeful to make a College Football Playoff run for the third straight season. Manning will be thrown to the fire early Aug. 30 at Ohio State, the defending National Champions.

No. 2 LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

The hype machine continues to gain stream in Columbia, South Carolina as Sellers is poised to make noise on the national scene as a potential Heisman contender. He passed for 2,534 yards, 18 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while adding 674 rushing yards seven scores on the ground.

With the Gamecocks expected to be ranked in the top 10 of most preseason media polls and AP Top 25, Sellers will take on immense pressure and expectations to improve off a surprising 2024 campaign. After barely missing out on a playoff bid last season, that has to be the ultimate goal for him and most South Carolina fans.

No. 1 Garrett Nussmeier, LSU 

The SEC’s most experienced passer is back for the Tigers after playing parts of the three seasons prior to 2024. He possesses plenty of arm talent throwing for 4,052 yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions last year.

Nussmeier will be counted on to be be more consistent throughout a whole season to take the Tigers into playoff consideration. His aggressive, big-arm style fits LSU’s tradition of producing elite quarterbacks.

There’s plenty of potential for Nussmeier to make a second-year leap similar to Joe Burrow or Jayden Daniels which could solidify him as the conference’s best talent and another first round NFL draft prospect.

Honorable Mention

At least one newcomer comes from outside the SEC in John Mateer (Oklahoma) after transferring in from Washington State during the winter portal window. He was dynamic against a blended schedule made up of Power-Four and Group of Five schools passing for 3,139 yards and 29 touchdowns and rushing for an additional 826 yards and 15 scores in 2024.

As a sophomore, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava was spotty at best passing for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and just five interceptions with another 358 yards and three scores on the ground. Despite his ups and downs, Iamaleava still led the Volunteers to a College Football Playoff berth.

Going into 2025, he’ll need a quality jump in production to place him in the Heisman race and elevate him into one of the top quarterbacks in the SEC.

Don’t forget about Taylen Green at Arkansas either. Offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino’s handpicked quarterback displayed plenty of big play potential last season with 3,154 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while tacking on over 600 yards and eight scores on the ground.

The 6-foot-6, 235 pound dual threat will have to train with a virtually new receiving corps after losing his top eight receiving options to graduation or transfer portal.