As we roll into our 2025 SEC preseason quarterback rankings, it’s worth noting just how divided the landscape can be—even among three experienced evaluators. For these rankings, we assign points based on placement: the top-ranked team earns 16 points, second place 15, and so on down to the team in last place receiving just one point. This system allows us to aggregate our individual opinions into a composite ranking while still highlighting differences in perspective. As with previous rankings this year, we weren’t unanimous on any single spot, though we came remarkably close a few times, particularly at the very top of the list. Diversity continues to shine in this year’s evaluations, with the talent and style differences across SEC quarterback rooms making for a lively debate and a wide spectrum of team strengths. Once again, we have a tie in our rankings: Auburn and Missouri both land at the #14 spot, underscoring the challenges in separating the mid-to-lower tier groups.
Despite some areas of agreement, there were plenty of spots where we were all over the map. Caleb, Craig, and I were nearly on the same page regarding LSU’s top billing and Oklahoma’s position as a close second, while teams like Georgia and South Carolina saw more variance in our assessments, reflecting differing opinions on experience versus upside. Some of the more contentious placements were in the middle of the pack, where Florida, Texas, and Alabama shuffled slightly depending on who you asked. At the bottom, Missouri and Mississippi State consistently drew concern for their lack of proven starters and depth, yet each evaluator had slightly different reasoning for ranking them where they did. For the full, individual breakdown of every SEC quarterback room, scroll to the bottom of the page to see our complete rankings, analysis, and point totals, giving you a chance to explore how we arrived at each team’s position and where consensus—and disagreement—shaped our preseason outlook.
Heartland Sports Consensus SEC Receivers Rankings
| RANKING | POINTS |
|---|---|
| 1. LSU | 46 |
| 2. Oklahoma | 45 |
| 3. Texas | 40 |
| 4. South Carolina | 39 |
| 5. Florida | 35 |
| 6. Georgia | 34 |
| 7. Alabama | 30 |
| 8. Ole Miss | 26 |
| 9. Arkansas | 25 |
| 10. Vanderbilt | 21 |
| 11. Texas A&M | 18 |
| 12. Tennessee | 15 |
| 13. Mississippi State | 13 |
| 14. Auburn | 9 |
| 14. Missouri | 9 |
| 15. Kentucky | 6 |
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. LSU | Garrett Nussmeier was asked to do everything for the LSU offense last fall, and he performed pretty well. Despite leading the SEC with 12 picks I think Nussmeier will come out and prove why hes one of the best QBs in the nation.
2. South Carolina | LaNorris Sellers showed off last season. As a redshirt freshman he played like one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Now back with more experience Sellers is dark horse for the Heisman trophy.
3. Oklahoma | John Mateer the former Washington State quarterback is a true dual-threat with over 3,000 yards passing and over 800 yards rushing, Mateer should be a breakout star in the spotlight.
4. Florida
5. Texas
6. Arkansas
7. Ole Miss
8. Georgia
9. Alabama
10. Vanderbilt
11. Texas A&M
12. Tennessee
13. Missouri
14. Mississippi State
15. Kentucky | Expectations are low involving Zach Calzada. The Brock Vandagriff experiment worked out poorly, and Mark Stoops hopes this former Texas A&M quarterback can come in and spark something special for the wildcats.
16. Auburn | Jackson Arnold, struggled last year for the sooners. Turnovers and misreads really plagued his play last season, and from what we hear coming out of Fall camp is much of the same as last season for the sooners.
Craig
1. Oklahoma | John Mateer certainly has a lot of hype surrounding him. I certainly think he can prove to be the best quarterback in the SEC. The Sooners will have a new look offense that focuses on his strengths.
2. Texas | It’s hard not to buy into the Arch Manning hype. However, I couldn’t put him at the top with the lack of experience. He has potential to be the best quarterback in the nation, but will that come to fruition?
3. LSU | Garrett Nussmeier is back for his senior season and is looking like a first round draft pick. Nussmeier has had plenty of time to develop into a top tier quarterback.
4. South Carolina
5. Florida
6. Georgia
7. Alabama
8. Vanderbilt
9. Arkansas
10. Ole Miss
11. Mississippi State
12. Texas A&M
13. Auburn
14. Missouri
15. Tennessee | The Vols are due for a drop off at the QB position after the departure of Nico Iamaleava. Joey Aguilar who threw 56 touchdowns over two seasons at Appalachian State is going to get the start. He obviously has some potential, but is unproven at this level of competition.
16. Kentucky | Sometimes there isn’t enough experience to make you a great quarterback. That’s the case for the Wildcats 7th year QB Zach Calzada. He’s back in the SEC after spending the last two years at Incarnate Word.
Matt
1. LSU | The Tigers enter 2025 with the best quarterback room in the SEC — and arguably the nation — because it not only boasts a proven star in Garrett Nussmeier, but also enviable depth behind him. Nussmeier has already established himself as the conference’s top returning passer and a bona fide Heisman candidate, displaying a rare blend of arm talent, toughness, and leadership that positions him to follow the trajectory of recent Tiger greats like Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels. His ability to deliver jaw-dropping throws while playing through pain gives LSU the kind of centerpiece every College Football Playoff contender needs. Yet what separates the Tigers from their peers is the insurance policy: Michael Van Buren, a transfer from Mississippi State, who started eight SEC games as a true freshman and flashed real playmaking ability despite limited weapons. Add in the long-term intrigue of Colin Hurley, a gifted young arm, and Ju’Juan Johnson, an athletic project with a dynamic skillset, and Brian Kelly has layered his depth chart with both present dominance and future upside. In an era where most programs struggle to field one reliable starter, LSU’s blend of star power and experience makes its quarterback unit the clear standard in the SEC.
2. Oklahoma | The Sooners enter 2025 with arguably the second-best quarterback unit in the SEC, trailing only LSU, thanks to a combination of proven production and untapped potential. John Mateer gives the Sooners a veteran starter with over 3,000 passing yards, 29 touchdowns, and elite dual-threat ability after a breakout season at Washington State, where he thrived in Ben Arbuckle’s offensive system—the same scheme he now reunites with in Norman. His familiarity with Arbuckle’s playbook ensures Oklahoma’s offense can operate with tempo and precision, while his leadership provides stability in a tough SEC landscape. Behind him, Michael Hawkins Jr. has taken major strides, refining his mechanics and decision-making while retaining the elite athleticism that made him a high-upside prospect. Together, Mateer’s Heisman-level ceiling and Hawkins’ rapid development give the Sooners both a dangerous starter and one of the most capable backups in the league, making their quarterback room deeper and more dynamic than most of their SEC peers.
3. Georgia | The Bulldogs enter 2025 with one of the top three quarterback rooms in the SEC, thanks to a blend of upside, depth, and proven resilience under pressure. Gunner Stockton, the presumed starter, has already shown flashes of big-game poise after stepping in during the 2024 SEC Championship and Sugar Bowl, and his dual-threat skill set gives Georgia an added dimension reminiscent of Stetson Bennett’s playmaking. While Stockton still lacks a full season of starting experience, his leadership and support within the locker room make him a trusted figure as the Bulldogs transition to a new offensive era. Behind him, Ryan Puglisi has impressed with a strong spring, earning first-team reps and proving he’s capable of pushing Stockton while providing quality insurance should injuries arise. Though Georgia faces questions up front with a rebuilt offensive line, few programs in the SEC can match the combination of Stockton’s athletic ceiling and Puglisi’s emerging talent. That depth, paired with the Bulldogs’ overall roster strength, makes their quarterback group one of the league’s most secure and promising units heading into 2025.
4. Texas
5. Alabama
6. South Carolina
7. Florida
8. Ole Miss
9. Tennessee
10. Texas A&M
11. Arkansas
12. Vanderbilt
13. Auburn
14. Kentucky
15. Missouri | The Tigers enter the 2025 season near the bottom of the SEC quarterback rankings largely because of the uncertainty and lack of proven production at the position. With longtime starter Brady Cook now in the NFL, the Tigers face a wide-open battle between Penn State transfer Beau Pribula and dual-sport athlete Sam Horn, neither of whom has shown they can consistently lead an SEC offense. Pribula brings intriguing mobility and flashes of playmaking ability, but he’s never started a game at this level, while Horn continues to battle back from injuries, including Tommy John surgery, that have slowed his development. Freshman Matt Zollers has the pedigree and raw talent to eventually become Missouri’s quarterback of the future, but it’s unrealistic to expect him to carry the Tigers right away as he adjusts to the college game. While Eli Drinkwitz and new quarterbacks coach Sean Gleeson have praised the leadership and potential in the room, the lack of a clear, experienced starter leaves Missouri with one of the most unsettled quarterback situations in the SEC heading into 2025.
16. Mississippi State | The Bulldogs’ quarterback group ranks at the bottom of the SEC heading into 2025, not because of a lack of talent, but because of inexperience and injury concerns at the top of the depth chart. Blake Shapen, the only returning quarterback with meaningful experience, has the skills and knowledge to run Jeff Lebby’s high-octane offense, but he enters the season coming off a season-ending injury suffered in Week 4 last year. The Bulldogs have added highly touted newcomers, including five-star transfer Luke Kromenhoek and four-star high school recruit Kamario Taylor, both of whom bring upside but very little proven college production. Michael Van Buren, who showed flashes as a true freshman, has moved on to LSU, leaving the room thin at experienced options. While Shapen can lead if he stays healthy, the rest of the quarterback room remains largely untested at the SEC level, making Mississippi State’s position group the least settled and least battle-tested in the conference.
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