ESPN’s Top 100 players for the 2025 college football season dropped Friday morning, and it’s packed with names who not only lit up the stat sheet but also reshaped the landscape of the sport this past year. Leading the list is Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza, fresh off a Heisman Trophy win and a historic run to the program’s first-ever national championship. But the SEC made its presence felt in the top 10, with three standout players earning elite recognition - none more surprising or impactful than Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss.
Chambliss checked in at No. 7, the highest-ranked SEC player on the list. And considering where his season started, that’s nothing short of remarkable.
He wasn’t even Ole Miss’s starter to begin the year. In fact, he didn’t take over the offense until Week 3.
But once he did, he didn’t just steady the ship - he turned it into a rocket.
The former Division II transfer arrived in Oxford last summer with little fanfare. By season’s end, he had led the Rebels to a 13-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals - the best season in school history.
His numbers tell part of the story: nearly 4,000 passing yards, 22 touchdowns through the air, and another 527 yards and eight scores on the ground. But it was how he played - with poise, creativity, and an uncanny knack for making the right play at the right time - that elevated Ole Miss to new heights.
Chambliss wasn’t just a plug-in quarterback. He became the engine of one of the SEC’s most dynamic offenses, and his ability to extend plays and deliver in clutch moments made him a nightmare for opposing defenses. He may have started the season as a question mark, but he ended it as one of the most electric players in the country.
Rounding out the SEC’s top 10 representation were Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia at No. 9 and Texas A&M defensive end Cashius Howell at No. 10 - two players who put together dominant campaigns in very different ways.
Pavia, a Heisman finalist in his own right, helped lead a Vanderbilt resurgence that few saw coming. The Commodores hit the 10-win mark, and Pavia’s dual-threat ability was central to that success. He was the third quarterback on ESPN’s list behind Mendoza and Chambliss, and for good reason - his command of the offense and ability to make plays under pressure gave Vanderbilt a legitimate edge in every game they played.
Then there’s Howell, who anchored a Texas A&M defense that consistently made life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. With 14 tackles for loss and 11 sacks, he was a force on the edge all season long.
Howell didn’t just rack up stats - he changed games. His explosiveness off the line and relentless motor made him one of the most disruptive defenders in the country.
So while Mendoza rightfully earned the top spot after a season for the ages, the SEC showed it’s still home to some of the game’s most elite talent. Whether it’s a breakout star like Chambliss, a high-flying playmaker like Pavia, or a defensive menace like Howell, the conference continues to produce players who don’t just compete - they define the season.