Trinidad Chambliss is back for another year at Ole Miss, and that's a big win for the Rebels. Meanwhile, Tennessee faces a setback with Joey Aguilar not returning. This dynamic highlights the importance of experienced quarterbacks in the SEC's quest to reclaim college football dominance in 2026.
The trend is clear: recent national champions have relied on seasoned quarterbacks. Take Indiana in 2025 with Fernando Mendoza, Ohio State in 2024 with Will Howard, and Michigan in 2023 with JJ McCarthy. These teams all had quarterbacks with substantial college experience, proving that a seasoned leader under center can be a game-changer.
Even national runner-ups have followed this pattern. Miami's Carson Beck, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, and Washington's Michael Penix Jr. were all experienced quarterbacks who helped their teams reach the pinnacle of college football.
The theory is simple: as the talent gap narrows, having a quarterback who isn't just talented but also experienced can be the deciding factor. This brings us back to the SEC, which is eager to end its three-year drought in the national championship game.
With Chambliss securing his spot, four of the five SEC teams that made last year's College Football Playoff will return their starting quarterbacks. This includes:
- Ole Miss: Trinidad Chambliss, sixth year, third as a starter
- Georgia: Gunner Stockton, fifth year, second as a starter
- Oklahoma: John Mateer, fifth year, third as a starter
- Texas A&M: Marcel Reed, fourth year, third as a starter
Other SEC teams are also in good shape with experienced quarterbacks or transfers:
- Texas: Arch Manning, fourth year, second as a starter
- South Carolina: LaNorris Sellers, fourth year, third as a starter
- LSU: Sam Leavitt (Arizona State transfer), fourth year, third as a starter
- Auburn: Byrum Brown (South Florida transfer), fifth year, third as a starter
However, not every team is in such a strong position. Alabama is still deciding between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack, neither of whom have starting experience. Missouri and Vanderbilt are also in transition, with young or new quarterbacks stepping up.
Tennessee faces a wide-open competition for their starting spot, which underscores the value of having a seasoned QB in Josh Heupel's offense, as seen with Aguilar and Hendon Hooker in the past.
Last season's struggles for teams like Florida, South Carolina, LSU, and Arkansas, despite returning starters, serve as a cautionary tale. The SEC's postseason flameout could be attributed to the lack of seasoned quarterbacks from the season's start.
The SEC isn't guaranteed supremacy, especially with the Big Ten boasting four of the top five-rated quarterbacks returning. Ohio State, Oregon, Washington, and USC are poised for strong seasons. Miami also strengthened its roster with the addition of Darian Mensah from Duke.
In 2026, the SEC knows it can't rely on tradition alone. But if experience at quarterback continues to be a critical factor, the conference might just find its way back to the top.