The 2025 college football season started off with a bang in Week 1, and the SEC found itself right in the middle of the action. As per usual, the SEC was heavily involved in the most crucial results of the first full slate of games. And there was a shakeup in the SEC power rankings after the first full weekend of the college football season.
In a conference with plenty of intrigue at the quarterback position this year, we got our first dose of what each starter looks like, one week into the season. Whether it was returning starters, transfer portal additions, first-time starters, or players who won QB competitions, no quarterback situation in the SEC is exactly alike.
Today, we’ll walk through how every SEC opening-day starting QB played in Week 1, as a new crop of signal-callers compete to lead their teams to the conference title game and the College Football Playoff.
Ty Simpson, Alabama
23/43 passing, 254 yards and 2 TDs, 9 rushes for 17 yardsLoss at. Florida State, 31-17
Alabama’s Ty Simpson beat out Austin Mack and Keelon Russell to win the starting job for the Crimson Tide, but his team fell in one of the more shocking results of the weekend. Alabama didn’t look good against Florida State, but there’s still plenty of talent on that roster to make a run at the SEC title game. Simpson was solid, with zero turnovers, but unspectacular in his first start for the Tide.
Taylen Green, Arkansas
24/31 passing, 322 yards and 6 TDs, 9 rushes for 41 yardsWin vs. Alabama A&M, 52-7
Taylen Green showed off impressive efficiency for Arkansas in the big win, as the dual-threat threw for six scores against Alabama A&M. Sure, it was against an FCS opponent, but Green displayed the kind of passing Razorbacks want to see from their second-year starter. If Green makes a leap this year, Arkansas will be a team no one wants to have to face.
Jackson Arnold, Auburn
11/17 passing, 108 yards and 0 TDs, 16 rushes for 137 yards and 2 TDsWin at. Baylor, 38-24
Auburn’s Jackson Arnold held off Deuce Knight and Ashton Daniels in the Tigers’ QB room this offseason, and he played turnover-free football in a win over Baylor. Arnold did the vast majority of his damage on the ground, as he had more rushing attempts than completions. As long as that works for Auburn, it’s fine, but if the Tigers want to win big in the SEC, Arnold will have to prove he can stand in the pocket and make good decisions throwing the ball.
DJ Lagway, Florida
15/18 passing, 120 yards and 3 TDs, 3 rushes for 3 yardsWin vs. Long Island, 55-0
DJ Lagway and the Gators made quick work of Long Island in Week 1, and the dynamic QB was efficient against an underwhelmed opponent. Lagway dealt with some inures this offseason, but he was cleared to go late in fall camp and looked the part against the Sharks. Florida needs him to stay healthy in 2025, and if he’s on the field, the Gators have a chance to beat most of the teams in the SEC.
Gunner Stockton, Georgia
14/24 passing, 190 yards and 2 TDs, 10 rushes for 73 yards and 2 TDsWin vs. Marshall, 45-7
Gunner Stockton led Georgia in rushing in Week 1, as the Bulldogs got an easy win over Marshall in Athens. Stockton beat Ryan Puglisi in a QB derby this offseason, and he provides a rushing element that the Dawgs haven’t had for the last two seasons. Expectations between the hedges are always high, and Stockton takes the reins under center for a team that has lofty goals.
Zach Calzada, Kentucky
10/23 passing, 85 yards, 0 TDs and 1 INT, 10 rushes for 14 yards and 1 TDWin vs. Toledo, 24-16
Kentucky and Zach Calzada squeaked by Toldeo on Saturday, and it wasn’t the debut that the Wildcats wanted from their new starting QB. The veteran didn’t reach 100 total yards, and completed less than half of his passes at home. Kentucky is looking up at most of the rest of the conference in preseason predictions, and a one-score win over the Rockets didn’t raise expectations much.
Garrett Nussmeier, LSU
28/38 passing, 230 yards and 1 TD, 4 rushes for 2 yardsWin at. Clemson, 17-10
LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier had one of the country’s finest performances from a QB in Week 1, as the Tigers went on the road and defeated Clemson in one of the highlight games of the weekend. Nussmeier lived up to the offseason hype, and LSU looked like a team that will be a problem in the league this year. A slow start could have doomed the Tigers, but Nussmeier and a stout defense took care of business in the second half.
Blake Shapen, Mississippi State
26/34 passing, 270 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, 6 rushes for 5 yardsWin at. Southern Mississippi, 34-17
Mississippi State’s Blake Shapen returns from injury to quarterback the Bulldogs again in 2025. He bested Luke Kromenhoek and KaMario Taylor to win the job this offseason, and he’s a veteran that’s seen a lot of football. MSU would’ve liked a more comfortable win on the road, but they’ll take a 1-0 start with an uphill climb coming this fall.
Beau Pribula, Missouri
23/28 passing, 283 yards and 2 TDs, 10 rushes for 65 yards and 2 TDsWin vs. Central Arkansas, 61-6
Missouri might have one of the league’s most interesting QB situations. Beau Pribula won the starting job in the offseason over Sam Horn, but both were expected to play roles against Central Arkansas. Then, Horn got hurt on his first snap, leaving Pribula to take all of the snaps going forward and Matt Zollers, a true freshman, as his backup indefinitely. Pribula looked very good in his first career start in the blowout win in Week 1, but a much bigger test awaits in Week 2 against Kansas.
John Mateer, Oklahoma
30/37 passing, 392 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT, 7 rushes for 24 yards and 1 TDWin vs. Illinois State, 35-3
John Mateer and the Sooners would have loved to have beaten Illinois State by more, but Oklahoma still showed off much more offensive rhythm in their 2025 season opener. Mateer looked the part against the Redbirds, showing high-level ball placement as a passer and competitiveness as a runner. Sooner Nation hopes another big performance is coming next week against Michigan in college football’s game of the week for Week 2.
Austin Simmons, Ole Miss
20/31 passing, 341 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs, 7 rushes for 17 yardsWin vs. Georgia State, 63-7
Austin Simmons takes the reins for the Rebels in 2025 and showed some good things in the season-opener. While Ole Miss doesn’t need the two interceptions, Simmons knows the offense well, spending two seasons in the system as a backup. A conference bout against Kentucky is looming, and the Rebs are looking to get revenge for an upset loss next year.
LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina
12/19 passing, 209 yards and 1 TD, 13 rushes for 25 yards and 1 TDWin vs. Virginia Tech, 24-11
South Carolina’s offense was slowed for most of the day against Virginia Tech, but LaNorris Sellers still managed to show off why he’s one of the most electric players in college football. While he wasn’t at his best on Sunday, he still had a few jaw-dropping plays, helping the Gamecocks get a Power Four win. South Carolina has plenty of showcase games coming up in 2025, which means Sellers will have to play the role of Superman a few more times this year.
Joey Aguilar, Tennessee
16/28 passing, 247 yards and 3 TDs, 6 rushes for 34 yardsWin vs. Syracuse, 45-26
Joey Aguilar became Tennessee’s new starting QB after beating out Jake Merklinger and George MacIntrye in a fall camp competition for the job. He was very impressive in the Volunteers’ Week 1 win over Syracuse, and looked very comfortable in the offense, despite only arriving on Rocky Top in the spring. If the Vols get consistent high-end quarterback play, they’ll be very tough to deal with for any SEC team. Aguilar is a veteran who has played a lot of college football, and he seemed unafraid of throwing it deep for the Vols.
Arch Manning, Texas
17/30 passing, 170 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, 10 rushes for 38 yardsLoss at. Ohio State, 14-7
Arch Manning’s highly-anticipated debut fell flat, as Texas mustered just seven points on the road. Manning never looked comfortable and the Longhorns couldn’t move the ball against the Ohio State defense. Arch has those magic Manning genes, so he’ll probably be just fine, as will the ‘Horns, but that’s probably also what folks said about Chris Simms back in 2001. Manning will need to improve his accuracy, but he has a month to do so before Texas’ next tough game, a trip to The Swamp to face Florida in early October.
Marcel Reed, Texas A&M
22/34 passing, 289 yards and 4 TDs, 8 rushes for 39 yardsWin vs. UTSA, 42-24
Marcel Reed and the Aggies were locked in a tight battle with UTSA, but Texas A&M pulled away at home to win comfortably. Reed is an explosive athlete and always a threat when he runs the ball, but if he throws it the way he did against the Roadrunners on Saturday, Texas A&M could be a problem in this league. The Aggies have a road date with Notre Dame in Week 3, and all eyes will be on Reed, who was the backup when the Fighting Irish won that matchup at Kyle Field in Week 1 of 2024.
Diego Pavia, Vanderbilt
20/25 passing, 275 yards and 3 TDs, 8 rushes for 44 yardsWin vs. Charleston Southern, 45-3
Vanderbilt’s Diego Pavia was efficient in a Week 1 blowout win, and he’s a veteran QB who runs the Commodores’ offense extremely well. Pavia is a threat in the run game at all times, and when he’s in rhythm as a passer, Vandy can be a real pain to deal with. The Commodores hit the road to face Virginia Tech in Week 2, before another road trip to South Carolina in Week 3. We’ll learn a lot about Pavia and Vanderbilt in 2025 from those two matchups.
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