David Pollack didn’t need long to draw a line between the SEC quarterbacks he trusts and the one he doesn’t.
The former Georgia star, now a veteran college football analyst, pointed to Bulldogs quarterback Gunnar Stockton as the passer he’d put his faith in. Pollack said Stockton’s rough outing against Auburn was the exception, not the rule.
“This year, with that squad-- he had a bad game there's no doubt... but I trust him to take care of the football. That [performance against Auburn] was more of an anomaly to me than anything.”
That trust has been built on efficiency and ball security. Stockton entered the Auburn game with just two interceptions on 124 passing attempts, then matched that total in the loss and also coughed up a costly late fumble that helped Auburn set up the winning drive.
Even with that setback, Stockton still sits at the top of the SEC in quarterback rating. He’s completing more than 74% of his passes, averaging 9.9 yards per attempt, and his 16 touchdown throws trail only Kamario Taylor’s 17 in the conference.
Stockton’s overall production has backed up the numbers. In 2025, he threw for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns while tossing only five interceptions. And despite Georgia’s loss last week, Pollack’s view of the Bulldogs remains unchanged: under Stockton, they’re likely to get back to the College Football Playoff.
Pollack had a very different answer when the conversation turned to Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
“There's no world, there's no situation, there's nothing period that you can sell me... that I would buy Arch Manning,” said Pollack, “I'm assuming the value is as low as it's going to get. Just remember, we were talking about Heisman Trophy for Arch Manning, so the fact that we're sitting here and now we're discussing whether he should be benched, I'm not sure it can go any lower.”
Manning is in his second full season as Texas’ starter, and the results have not matched the hype. He is ninth among 15 qualifying SEC quarterbacks in QB rating, ranks 12th in the league with 1,295 passing yards, and his 11 touchdown passes place him ninth.
The problem goes beyond the box score. Manning has only topped 300 passing yards once this season, and that came in the opener against Texas State. His 7.8 yards per attempt doesn’t jump off the page, and over his last three games he has thrown three interceptions against four touchdowns.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Heads Into A True Gut Check With Key Spots Under Pressure
Oklahoma heads into Week 8 with the kind of injury uncertainty that can quickly reshape a game plan, especially on offense. The Sooners are getting ready for Mississippi State while trying to navigate a battered front and keep enough stability around key pieces like Jake Maikkula, Noah Best and E'Marion Harris, a group whose availability could matter just as much as production this week.
There are still a few names worth tracking beyond the offensive line, starting with Manny Choice after his strong showing last week and Jonathan Hatton Jr. in the backfield, while Trystan Haynes remains part of the defensive equation. For Oklahoma, the challenge is less about the matchup on paper than whether the roster can hold together long enough to turn recent frustration into a needed response. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma Has A Few Players Who Must Deliver In Starkville
Oklahoma heads to Starkville dealing with some familiar early-season uncertainty up front, and that makes the margin for error a little thinner than usual. With injuries on the offensive line complicating the Sooners preparation, the emphasis shifts quickly from comfort to survival, especially against a Mississippi State defense that will be looking to make the visitors work for everything.
On the other side, the Bulldogs bring their own question mark in the status of starting quarterback Kamario Taylor, which adds another layer to a game already full of moving parts. For Oklahoma, the bigger issue may be whether the right players can steady the offense while the defense does its part against a Mississippi State attack that has its own tendencies to sort through before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
OU Faces A Huge Defensive Question Heading Into Mississippi State
Brent Venables is planning for the kind of week that keeps defensive staffs up late. As Oklahoma gets ready for Mississippi State, the Sooners are preparing as if quarterback Kamario Taylor will be available, even though his recent injuries have left his status in question. Taylor has been central to the Bulldogs' offense and entered the matchup leading the SEC in passing yards and touchdowns, which makes his availability a major issue for an Oklahoma defense trying to sort out its game plan.
Mississippi State coach Jeff Lebby has called Taylor day-to-day, and backup Billy Puckett stepped in to start last week when Taylor was out. For the Sooners, the challenge is less about who gets the first snap and more about being ready for both versions of the offense on short notice. With an SEC matchup looming, Oklahoma has to account for Taylor's explosiveness without losing sight of the possibility that Puckett could again be the one under center. [Read more 🡒]