With Chambliss Out, Gunner Stockton’s Path to SEC Stardom Just Got Clearer
In college football, competition is the name of the game. It sharpens talent, fuels rivalries, and separates the good from the great.
But every now and then, when a major competitor exits the stage, the spotlight shifts-and suddenly, things come into focus. That’s exactly what’s happening for Georgia quarterback Gunner Stockton.
With the NCAA officially denying former Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss an extra year of eligibility, one of the SEC’s most dynamic signal-callers is now out of the picture for 2026. It’s a tough break for Ole Miss and a loss for fans who love seeing elite quarterback play on Saturdays. But for Stockton, it’s a significant development-because one of the few players standing between him and the title of SEC’s best quarterback is no longer in the race.
Let’s be clear: Stockton already put the conference on notice last season. In his first year as Georgia’s starter, he didn’t just manage the offense-he elevated it.
His playmaking ability, poise under pressure, and leadership helped steer the Bulldogs through a rugged SEC slate, and he did it with the kind of confidence that doesn’t usually come from first-year starters. Now, with Chambliss out and other top-tier QBs like Ty Simpson and Diego Pavia also moving on, the path to conference supremacy is wide open.
That doesn’t mean Stockton’s road is without obstacles. Arch Manning at Texas has the name recognition and the tools to back it up.
Marcel Reed at Texas A&M has shown flashes of brilliance. Sam Leavitt, the LSU newcomer, brings intrigue after his time at Arizona State.
But here’s the key difference-Stockton has already done it, and he’s done it in the SEC.
Pavia may have taken home SEC Player of the Year honors and finished second in Heisman voting last season, but he did it in a magical year at Vanderbilt-a storybook run that won’t be repeated. Simpson, another All-SEC Second Team selection, is off to the NFL.
And Chambliss, who would’ve been a major threat, is now officially out of eligibility. That clears the deck for Stockton to take center stage.
And don’t overlook the ripple effect on the field. Ole Miss without Chambliss is a different team.
That matchup just got a little less daunting for Georgia-and a little less complicated for Stockton. Every edge matters in the SEC, and losing a quarterback of Chambliss’s caliber changes the dynamic.
Of course, names like Manning and Leavitt will still dominate headlines. That’s the nature of college football.
But if you’re looking strictly at production, consistency, and experience within the conference, Stockton checks every box. He’s not just a highlight-reel guy-he’s a quarterback who can win you games in November, when championships are decided.
So while the SEC quarterback race is still stacked with talent, there’s no denying that the field just got thinner at the top. And in a league where separation is measured in inches, Stockton just gained a few yards of daylight.
He’s been building toward this moment. Now, with one less star in the mix, the stage is his to own.