David Pollack didn’t leave much room for debate when he sized up the SEC quarterback race.
The longtime analyst, who starred at Georgia and was twice named SEC Player of the Year, said Georgia’s Gunner Stockton is the passer he trusts most in the league. Pollack pointed to Stockton’s knack for protecting the ball and brushed off the Auburn game as a one-off.
"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."
Stockton’s numbers back up plenty of that confidence. He had thrown only two interceptions in 124 passing attempts before the Auburn game, then matched that total in that contest and also coughed up a costly late fumble that helped Auburn set up the winning drive.
Even with that rough outing, Stockton still sits atop the SEC in quarterback rating. He’s completing more than 74% of his passes, his 9.9 yards per attempt leads the conference, and his 16 passing touchdowns trail only Kamario Taylor’s 17.
And this isn’t just a one-game story. Stockton threw for 2,894 yards and 24 touchdowns with only five interceptions in 2025, and even after Georgia’s loss last week, the Bulldogs are likely headed back to the College Football Playoff with Stockton steering the offense.
Pollack had a far colder read on 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’s second full season as Texas’ starter has not lived up to the hype. He is ninth among 15 qualifying SEC quarterbacks in QB rating, ranks 12th in the league with 1,295 passing yards, and is ninth with 11 touchdown passes.
The struggles have gone beyond the stat sheet, too. Manning has only topped 300 passing yards once this season, in the opener against Texas State, his 7.8 yards per pass attempt is underwhelming, and he has thrown three interceptions against four touchdowns over his last three games.
In Other News...
Why Clark Lea Finally Reimagined Davin Chandlers Role
Davin Chandlers path has shifted in a meaningful way for Vanderbilt, and the move has come with real traction on the field. After beginning his time in the defensive backfield at safety, Chandler has settled into a cornerback role and is now being used as a nickel corner, a spot that asks for versatility, quick processing and the ability to handle a lot of different assignments. It is the kind of adjustment that can quietly reshape a defense, especially when a player embraces it the way Chandler has.
Clark Lea has taken notice of both the production and the approach. Chandler has been active in recent games and has worked his way into important depth behind the starter at cornerback, giving Vanderbilt another option in a secondary that always needs reliable bodies. The bigger question now is how far that expanded role can go, especially after Chandler turned in one of his best tackling performances yet and reinforced why the staff is comfortable trusting him in a new spot. [Read more 🡒]
Jared Curtis Is Carrying A Big Vanderbilt Question Into This Weekend
Jared Curtis is still just a freshman, but Vanderbilt is already watching him grow into more than the five-star label that arrived with him. In a season where the Commodores have had to work through their share of challenges, the quarterbacks early rise as a voice in the room has become one of the more encouraging developments around the program, especially as he gets more comfortable with the pace and pressure of college football.
Clark Lea has noticed Curtis earning respect in the locker room and finding more space to operate with each passing week, which matters for a team looking for steadying influence. The bigger test now is how that progress translates when Vanderbilt starts leaning on him more heavily, with the staff still shaping what the offense can be around his skill set and the questions around his role only getting bigger heading into this weekend. [Read more 🡒]
Vanderbilt Still Has To Live With One Huge Quarterback Decision
Clark Lea spent part of the week revisiting a quarterback chase that Vanderbilt would probably rather not think about too often. Kenny Minchey, a Nashville native who left Notre Dame and transferred to Kentucky, was once on the Commodores radar, and Lea made clear he still holds plenty of respect for the player and person. It is the kind of recruiting storyline that lingers because it sits right next to a programs biggest personnel bet.
Instead of landing Minchey, Vanderbilt committed to five-star quarterback Jared Curtis, a decision that points the program toward a different long-term answer under center. Curtis remains the centerpiece of that plan, and Lea sounded convinced the Commodores made the right call for the future. Still, the presence of Minchey on the opposite sideline this weekend gives the old comparison an immediate edge, even if Vanderbilt has already moved on from the choice itself. [Read more 🡒]