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October 26, 2024 5: 00 am CT
Now into the second half of the 2024 college football season, it’s pretty clear just what every SEC team has at the quarterback position.
When taking a look at that statement, some SEC teams are led by legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates at the position, while others have struggled at times so far this season to find consistency at quarterback, starting more than one player this year. Because of this, some SEC teams have ascended to among the nation’s best, while others have struggled throughout the year.
So, with the conference now entering Week 9 of the 2024 season, let’s rank all 16 of the SEC’s starting quarterbacks based on what we have seen so far, starting with No. 16 (This ranking factors in only the starting quarterback for each team entering Week 9).
16
Michael Van Buren Jr., Mississippi State Bulldogs
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2024 Stats: 53.5 CMP%, 792 yards, 6:2 TD:INT, 31 rushes, -5 yards, 1 TD
Van Buren, a true freshman, is Mississippi State’s new starting quarterback after taking over for the injured Blake Shapen a few weeks ago. The freshman has impressed at times however, but still ranks among the SEC’s bottom when it comes to completion percentage.
15
Brock Vandagriff, Kentucky Wildcats
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2024 Stats: 57.6 CMP%, 1,116 yards, 6:4 TD:INT, 68 rushes, 126 yards
After transferring from Georgia, Vandagriff has struggled at times during his first season with the Kentucky Wildcats. So far this season, Vandagriff ranks among the bottom of the SEC in almost every passing statistic in his first year as a full-time starter.
14
Taylen Green, Arkansas Razorbacks
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2024 Stats: 58.2 CMP%, 1,742 yards, 6:6 TD:INT, 87 rushes, 316 yards, 4 TD
After transferring from Boise State, Green has shown flashes at times for Arkansas under offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino, but has also struggled with the same turnovers that plagued him in past years with the Broncos. For the year, Green has thrown six interceptions, and currently ranks at the bottom of the conference in completion percentage.
13
Jackson Arnold, Oklahoma Sooners
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2024 Stats: 57.2 CMP%, 763 yards, 8:3 TD:INT, 58 rushes, 109 yards, 2 TD
Oklahoma recently made yet another quarterback change, as Arnold was re-named the starter over Michael Hawkins Jr.. The Sooners starting quarterback to begin the season, Arnold struggled in the early part of the season at times, but will look to improve of those numbers now back as the No. 1 option at Oklahoma.
12
Conner Weigman, Texas A&M Aggies
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2024 Stats: 61.5 CMP%, 718 yards, 3:4 TD:INT, 19 rushes, 112 yards
Weigman at Texas A&M is the lone SEC starting quarterback to enter Week 9 with more picks than touchdown passes so far this season. The Aggies starter also missed some time due to injury this season, which is probably why his numbers aren’t as high as others.
11
DJ Lagway, Florida Gators
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2024 Stats: 62.8 CMP%, 1,024 yards, 5:5 TD:INT, 34 rushes, 96 yards
The five-star true freshman is now Florida’s full-time starting quarterback, as Graham Mertz was recently ruled out for the remainder of the 2024 season. So far this year, Lagway has thrown five interceptions as well, but is completing an impressive 62.8% of his passes.
10
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks
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2024 Stats: 62.9 CMP%, 968 yards, 5:4 TD:INT, 84 rushes, 247 yards, 3 TD
Sellers has enjoyed a solid first season as the starter at South Carolina while completing 62.9% of his passes. The Gamecocks starter has however struggled at times with turnovers, as he has thrown four interceptions so far this season.
9
Payton Thorne, Auburn Tigers
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2024 Stats: 59.5 CMP%, 1,414 yards, 11:6 TD:INT, 65 rushes, 165 yards, 2 TD
Thorne has been Auburn’s starting quarterback for almost the entirety of the 2024 season, as Hank Brown did takeover the job at one point before the veteran earned it back. The Auburn quarterback has struggled this season with turnovers, as he has thrown six interceptions, but Thorne does enter Week 9 however having not thrown a pick over his last two games.
8
Brady Cook, Missouri Tigers
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2024 Stats: 63.1 CMP%, 1,545 yards, 7:1 TD:INT, 48 rushes, 117 yards, 4 TD
Cook is enjoying yet another solid season as the quarterback for the Missouri Tigers. So far this season, Cook ranks among the leaders in the SEC when it comes to turnovers, as he has only thrown one interception all year.
7
Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee Volunteers
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2024 Stats: 63.5 CMP%, 1,413 yards, 8:4 TD:INT, 53 rushes, 179 yards, 1 TD
While the Tennessee offense has had some struggles at times, you could still make the argument that Iamaleava is one of the better quarterbacks in the SEC. For the year, Iamaleava is currently completing 63.5% of his passes, while also having made an impact in the running game.
6
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt Commodores
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2024 Stats: 66.2 CMP%, 1,391 yards, 11:1 TD:INT, 118 rushes, 470 yards, 3 TD
Likely the conference’s top transfer addition from this past offseason at the quarterback position has been Pavia, who has led Vanderbilt to a strong start to the year. The Vanderbilt starter owns one of the top TD:INT ratios in the conference at 11:1, while also ranking among the SEC’s top rushing leaders at the quarterback position.
5
Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs
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2024 Stats: 66 CMP%, 1,993 yards, 15:8 TD:INT, 27 rushes, 65 yards
Even despite leading the SEC with eight interceptions, Beck is still one of the conference’s best quarterbacks entering Week 9. Georgia’s signal caller has thrown for nearly 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns, and currently ranks among the SEC leaders in completion percentage.
4
Jalen Milroe, Alabama Crimson Tide
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2024 Stats: 68.4 CMP%, 1,722 yards, 13:6 TD:INT, 91 rushes, 330 yards, 11 TD
A name that would’ve certainly been higher if this ranking was written a few weeks ago, Milroe has however struggled at times recently, and as a result sits here now. The Alabama signal caller has tied a career-high with six interceptions through Week 8, but has still been one of the SEC’s most impressive quarterbacks running the ball, accounting for 11 touchdowns on the ground so far this season.
3
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Tigers
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2024 Stats: 64.7 CMP%, 2,222 yards, 18:6 TD:INT, 9 rushes, 16 yards, 2 TD
Currently ranking among the SEC’s leaders in passing stats across the board, Nussmeier has had a strong first season as the full-time starter at LSU. At the moment, Nussmeier is the outright leader in passing completions, passing attempts, and touchdowns among SEC quarterbacks.
2
Quinn Ewers, Texas Longhorns
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2024 Stats: 68.2 CMP%, 1,101 yards, 11:4 TD:INT, 16 rushes, -30 yards, 1 TD
Even despite having missed some time due to injury, Ewers still ranks among the SEC’s top players at the position this season. The Texas Longhorns starter currently ranks among the SEC’s leaders in completion percentage at 68.2%, as well as with 11 touchdown passes.
1
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss Rebels
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2024 Stats: 70.2 CMP%, 2,384 yards, 14:3 TD:INT, 59 rushes, 183 yards, 3 TD
You could certainly make the argument that Dart has been the SEC’s top quarterback this season, as the Ole Miss starter currently leads the conference in multiple statistical categories. Included in that is his 70.2 completion percentage, 2,384 passing yards, and a 182.1 passer rating.