It is now lower than a month earlier than the beginning of the 2026 college football season. Nevertheless, not everybody, not even within the SEC, is aware of who their beginning quarterback goes to be for the 2026 season.
There are nonetheless a handful of vital quarterback battles occurring across the SEC. That features groups with utterly new teaching staffs and groups that anticipate to be within the Faculty Soccer Playoff image.
It is value diving into the largest of these competitions across the convention. Specifically, because the season quickly approaches.
For the second season in a row, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer has a quarterback battle on his arms. Final season, it ended up being Ty Simpson, an eventual first-round choose. Now, he’ll have to decide on between fourth-year QB Austin Mack and second-year QB Keelon Russell.
Mack has been with DeBoer since his days at Washington. In 4 video games a season in the past, Mack threw for 228 yards and a couple of touchdowns. Nevertheless, Russell was a five-star recruit and the No. 2 prospect within the Class of 2025, per 247 Sports activities. That is made it a battle between expertise in DeBoer’s system and upside.
It is a new period for the Arkansas Razorbacks, with Ryan Silverfield taking on as the top coach. There, KJ Jackson and AJ Hill are battling to be on the prime of the depth chart.
Jackson, who’s going into his third season at Arkansas, truly began the Missouri recreation in 2025. In the meantime, Hill is in his second faculty season and comes as a switch from Memphis, following Silverfield. Most anticipate Jackson to earn the job, however nothing is official but.
Underneath head coach Billy Napier and quarterback DJ Lagway, Florida followers have been ready for a breakout that by no means got here. Now, they’re each gone. Enter Jon Sumrall and enter a quarterback competitors.
The battle is now between Aaron Philo and Tramell Jones Jr. Coming in as a switch, Philo performed for brand spanking new offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner for 2 seasons at Georgia Tech. Whereas there, he acted as a backup to Haynes King. In the meantime, Jones is in his second season in faculty, after coming to Florida as a three-star recruit in 2025, per 247 Sports activities. It is shut, and for now, Florida coaches are insisting there is no timeline on a call.
Final 12 months, Tennessee introduced in veteran quarterback Joey Aguilar as a switch. He went trying within the courts this offseason to sue for an additional 12 months of eligibility, however misplaced. Now, head coach Josh Heupel wants a brand new quarterback once more.
The battle is between a pair of younger quarterbacks, first-year participant Faizon Brandon and second-year participant George MacIntyre. Brandon was a five-star recruit within the Class of 2026, however clearly has no faculty expertise. MacIntyre was a four-star in 2025, which nonetheless affords good potential, and has the additional benefit of taking part in in two faculty video games. Veteran Ryan Staub can also be on campus, however possible not part of a detailed quarterback battle.
