Bryce Young returns as the nation’s reigning Heisman Trophy winner and hopes to return Alabama to the top of the rankings and bring home a national championship. He’s clearly the top quarterback in the SEC, but where do the rest of the college football QBs come in — both nationally and within the conference?
Top SEC QBs in 2022 | 1-14
Hailing from our preseason top quarterback rankings at the FBS level, the starting quarterbacks from the SEC landed as follows:
1) Bryce Young, Alabama
2) Will Levis, Kentucky
3) Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
4) Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
5) KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
6) Anthony Richardson, Florida
7) Will Rogers, Mississippi State
8) Stetson Bennett, Georgia
9) Myles Brennan & Jayden Daniels, LSU
19) T.J. Finley, Auburn
11) Haynes King & Max Johnson, Texas A&M
12) Luke Altmyer & Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
13) Ken Seals & Mike Wright, Vanderbilt
14) Brady Cook & Jack Abraham, Missouri
And here’s how they ranked nationally among all their peers:
2) Bryce Young, Alabama
12) Will Levis, Kentucky
13) Spencer Rattler, South Carolina
14) Hendon Hooker, Tennessee
17) KJ Jefferson, Arkansas
22) Anthony Richardson, Florida
24) Will Rogers, Mississippi State
46) Stetson Bennett, Georgia
61) Myles Brennan & Jayden Daniels, LSU
68) T.J. Finley, Auburn
79) Haynes King & Max Johnson, Texas A&M
99) Luke Altmyer & Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
107) Ken Seals & Mike Wright, Vanderbilt
114) Brady Cook & Jack Abraham, Missouri
Which games should we be most excited for on the SEC schedule, and why should you be sure to tune in this fall? Let’s take it week by week.
Week 1: Florida State vs. LSU
One of the bigger questions ahead of the SEC season is who wins the starting battle in Baton Rouge. One of the ACC’s biggest questions is how does Florida State look opening the year after catching fire at the end of last season. Has Jordan Travis turned the corner? How will he fare against LSU? And who’s throwing the ball for the Tigers? A lot of questions will be answered on Monday Night of Week 1.
Week 2: Kentucky vs. Florida
Will Levis is the talk of the town in terms of pro future. But Anthony Richardson can vault up everyone’s draft boards with a terrific season. Both have immense talent and can be a massive part of the 2023 NFL Draft picture. But both will have to fare well early on in their schedules, especially here.
Week 3: Georgia vs. South Carolina
Spencer Rattler gets his first true test of the SEC as he takes on the defending national champs in Week 3. Rattler and the Gamecocks play at Arkansas a week earlier but hosting their first SEC game in the Rattler era is a big test. Will Rattler rebound from last season to perform admirably against the defending champs?
Week 4: Florida vs. Tennessee
Two incredibly-gifted quarterbacks are set to battle it out as Anthony Richardson meets Hendon Hooker in Week 4. All eyes will be on both as they have the eyes of the nation and NFL draft enthusiasts on them. Hooker is out to prove he can carry the elite level of play he showed last season through four quarters while Richardson takes the reigns full time in 2022. It’s as exciting as any other early-season matchup here in Week 4.
Week 5: Texas A&M vs. Mississippi State
Which Texas A&M quarterback will be starting by Week 5, and just how many yards will Will Rogers have thrown by now? The Bulldogs upset the Aggies last season, and Texas A&M will be seeking revenge on the road. Can Max Johnson or Haynes King answer the call as the clear-cut starter and return the favor in Starkville?
Week 6: Texas A&M vs. Alabama
A big game for multiple reasons. Not only is this the contest everyone had circled back when Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher were beefing, but this is Bryce Young’s lone regular-season loss. Young seeks atonement against the Aggies while Fisher and Saban ultimately settle the beef on the field. There may not be a bigger game, on paper, in 2022.
Week 7: LSU vs. Florida & Arkansas vs. BYU
A double-header of intense action as the Tigers and Gators square off, and the Razorbacks head to Provo. By this point, LSU better have a starter figured out, and we’ll know what we can see out of Richardson in Gainesville. As bitter rivals, this one is always exciting. KJ Jefferson pairs with Jaren Hall to also feature a top-20 matchup of quarterbacks on our rankings, and this one will go a long way towards BYU’s hopeful New Year’s Six bowl appearance.
Week 8: Mississippi State vs. Alabama
Let the fireworks go in this one as the Bulldogs and Crimson Tide can score with the best of them. However, Rogers and Mississippi State only mustered 9 points a season ago against Alabama. Can they rebound and keep their momentum going late in the season?
Week 9: Florida vs. Georgia
I’m old enough to call this one the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party, and that’s how I’ll treat it. Stetson Bennett brings the Bulldogs to Jacksonville against the archrival Gators led by Richardson. Is Richardson healthy by Week 9? Can he continue to lead the Gators in a favorable matchup? Will they get over the proverbial hump, and is he the difference-maker against Georgia?
Week 10: Alabama vs. LSU
Brian Kelly vs. Nick Saban. It’s an awesome coaching matchup, but it’s even better with Bryce Young taking on a talented LSU defense. Can the reigning Heisman winner secure the trophy once again? His performance against LSU will certainly go a long way toward dictating that race.
Week 11: Texas A&M vs. Auburn
Auburn finally gets on the board as T.J. Finley hosts the Aggies in mid-November. The Aggies are heavily featured because they’re an interesting case of who will be playing QB for them and just where they rank in these QB lists. Auburn, on the other hand, has the massive T.J. Finley as the presumed starter. But former A&M QB himself Zach Calzada could be the man here if Finley is inconsistent.
Week 12: Tennessee vs. South Carolina
What do these teams look like when they meet each other in late November? The rivals will square off with hopes of a top spot in the SEC East on the line. Spencer Rattler vs. Hendon Hooker is a battle of top-14 quarterbacks on our rankings. The preview stops there as that’s all we need to know.
Week 13: Rivalry Week
Mississippi State vs. Ole Miss — The Egg Bowl could potentially give us Jaxson Dart vs. Will Rogers. The stark difference in quarterbacks, despite both having Air Raid principles in their background, is staggering. This Thanksgiving matchup will not lack intriguing storylines.
Florida vs. Florida State — After catching fire down the stretch, it was a Travis-led Seminoles team that struck fear into Florida to cap the year in 2021. With an influx of transfer portal athletes in Tallahassee, the Gators better have this one penciled in on the calendar.
Auburn vs. Alabama — The Iron Bowl could give us any number of surprises. What it shouldn’t surprise with, however, is top-notch quarterback play. Does Bryce Young once again cement his Heisman candidacy with a stellar performance against their archrivals? Does Finley still own the job, or is Calzada going to play spoiler against Alabama yet again?