CBS Sports’ latest quarterback power rankings come with a heavy SEC lean, and the conference landed five passers in the top 10.
Writer David Cobb put together the weekly list, and the top spot belongs to Darian Mensah. Right behind him at No. 2 overall is Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, who stands as the highest-ranked SEC quarterback in the group. Chambliss now gets a major spotlight in Week 3, with Ole Miss set to face LSU in what is being billed as the biggest game of the regular season.
Arch Manning gives the SEC another entry at No. 3. Manning’s profile rose again after last week’s showdown with Ohio State, when he helped Texas erase a 23-3 fourth-quarter deficit and come away with the win.
Georgia’s Gunner Stockton checks in next among the SEC names. He has guided the Bulldogs to an undefeated start and has been described as one of the steadiest players in the country.
Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor also made the cut after a two-game stretch that has turned plenty of heads. Taylor has been the talk of the season so far, and Mississippi State’s upcoming matchup with South Carolina offers him a chance to really introduce himself to the country.
Rounding out the SEC contingent is Missouri quarterback Austin Simmons, who has been excellent since transferring from Ole Miss last year. Through the early part of the season, he has thrown for 544 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception.
In Other News...
Georgia May Have Found An Unexpected Freshman Weapon For SEC Play
Georgias first two games have come with the kind of cushion that lets a coaching staff do more than manage the scoreboard. It has also given several freshmen a chance to get on the field early, and one of them has already started to stand out. True freshman receiver Craig Dandridge has quietly turned himself into one of the more interesting pieces of the passing game, working his way to second on the team in receiving yards with 92 on four catches.
For a Bulldogs offense that is about to face a much stiffer level of competition, that kind of early contribution matters. Dandridge has not just flashed in limited snaps, he has shown enough to suggest he could keep earning opportunities once SEC play begins, which is exactly the sort of development Georgia wants from a young receiver. The bigger question now is whether his role keeps growing when the games tighten up and the pressure rises. [Read more 🡒]
Georgia Suddenly Has A Depth Concern Fans Can't Ignore
Georgias injury picture got a little clearer this week when the SEC released its first availability report ahead of the Arkansas game, and it was not exactly the kind of update that calms a fan base. Outside linebacker Chase Linton and defensive backs Justice Fitzpatrick and Tyriq Green were ruled out because of injuries, trimming options at key spots as the Bulldogs move deeper into the conference schedule.
Amaris Williams is still working his way back from an ACL injury, while running back Dante Dowdell remains on the list as he recovers from injuries sustained in an ATV accident. With depth already a weekly talking point in the SEC, Georgia is now dealing with a set of absences that makes every future report worth watching a little more closely. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolinas NIL Spending Picture Just Got Much Clearer
The latest Athletic analysis on projected 2026 roster budgets put a sharper price tag on the SEC arms race, and the league is again right at the center of it. With financial data used to estimate where every Power 5 program stands, the report showed three SEC teams inside the top five most expensive rosters nationally, underscoring how much money is already shaping the next wave of college football competition.
Texas topped the list with an estimated $45-55 million budget, but the broader takeaway for programs like Georgia is just as important: the gap between the leagues heavyweights and everyone else is becoming easier to see. The report breaks down budget ranges and national rankings for each SEC team, offering a clearer look at how the conferences spending picture may influence roster building, retention, and the stakes heading into 2026. [Read more 🡒]