QB Changes Plentiful in SEC, with Some More Natural Than Others
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As the Southeastern Conference (SEC) gears up for the 2025 college football season, one theme has emerged across the league: quarterback change. For a conference that prides itself on physical dominance and defense, the recent surge in offensive innovation has put even more spotlight on the most important position in sports. And this offseason, QB changes have swept through the SEC — some expected, others surprising, and a few that still raise more questions than answers.
With over half the teams in the SEC likely to start new quarterbacks in Week 1, the conference is entering a period of adjustment. Some programs are making natural transitions from one veteran to another; others are grasping at upside, hoping a transfer portal addition or promising freshman can spark something new. In the ever-competitive world of SEC football, where one good season can catapult a coach into national stardom and one bad year can get him fired, the quarterback carousel isn’t just a subplot — it’s the main story.
Alabama: Kalen DeBoer’s First Big Decision
With Jalen Milroe off to the NFL after leading Alabama to a College Football Playoff appearance, new head coach Kalen DeBoer has his first major challenge in Tuscaloosa. While Milroe improved dramatically under the previous regime, DeBoer now turns to former five-star Ty Simpson and Washington transfer Austin Mack, who followed DeBoer from Seattle.
This quarterback battle feels natural — Milroe’s exit was anticipated, and both Simpson and Mack bring upside. Mack already knows DeBoer’s system, which could give him an early edge. Regardless of who wins the job, Alabama fans will be watching closely to see if the Crimson Tide can maintain their elite standard in a post-Nick Saban world.
Georgia: New Face, Same Expectation
Carson Beck shocked some by returning for 2024, but now that he’s off to the NFL, Georgia is preparing for life after him. The natural heir apparent is Gunner Stockton, who has spent two years learning Todd Monken’s system. Yet the Bulldogs also brought in Ryan Puglisi and highly touted freshman Dylan Raiola — though Raiola ended up flipping to Nebraska, changing the outlook.
Kirby Smart doesn’t typically go for high-risk decisions at quarterback, which makes the gradual transition to Stockton feel comfortable. In a program where talent is everywhere, Georgia needs its quarterback to be steady, not spectacular.
LSU: Garrett Nussmeier’s Time
One of the most seamless transitions in the SEC is taking place in Baton Rouge, where Garrett Nussmeier takes over for Heisman winner Jayden Daniels. Nussmeier has been patient, sticking with LSU even as Daniels lit up the scoreboard in 2023 and 2024.
The Tigers aren’t starting over — they’re continuing with a quarterback who knows the system, the locker room, and the stakes. Head coach Brian Kelly seems confident in Nussmeier’s leadership and arm talent. In an era dominated by the transfer portal, this kind of internal development is rare and, in LSU’s case, might pay off immediately.
Ole Miss: Dart’s Departure and a Crowded Room
Lane Kiffin’s quarterback room might be the most intriguing in the conference. With Jaxson Dart declaring for the NFL, Ole Miss turned to the portal and signed former LSU starter Walker Howard (previously committed to Ole Miss), Oklahoma State’s Alan Bowman, and top 2024 signee Austin Simmons.
Unlike some other programs, Ole Miss appears to be throwing everything at the wall and seeing what sticks. This QB battle doesn’t have a clear front-runner, though Howard’s familiarity with SEC speed might give him a leg up. Kiffin loves creativity at the position, but with the Rebels expected to contend in the expanded playoff race, uncertainty could hurt.
Texas A&M: DJ Uiagalelei, Take Three
The Aggies are entering a new era under Mike Elko, and that includes another new face under center. Former Clemson and Oregon State quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will be the third program he’s led in four years, and while he’s got talent, consistency has been an issue.
After Conner Weigman transferred and Max Johnson moved on as well, A&M had few options but to dip into the portal. Uiagalelei’s big arm and experience might be enough to stabilize things in College Station, but it’s hard to call this a “natural” change. It’s more of a patch while Elko tries to rebuild the culture.
Florida: Desperation or Development?
Graham Mertz’s eligibility is finally up, leaving Florida in a precarious spot. Billy Napier enters a must-win season without a proven option. Former blue-chip recruit Max Brown and true freshman DJ Lagway will battle it out, but neither has taken meaningful SEC snaps.
Lagway is the future — and perhaps the present. The No. 1 dual-threat QB in the 2024 class, he brings upside Mertz never had. But asking a freshman to save Napier’s job is asking a lot. This change feels forced by necessity rather than strategic timing.
Auburn: Robby Ashford Out, Holden Geriner In?
The Tigers are one of the few teams with relative continuity, though even that comes with wrinkles. Payton Thorne is gone, and Robby Ashford transferred, leaving Holden Geriner and freshman Walker White to compete.
Geriner, a third-year sophomore, has shown flashes, and Hugh Freeze seems high on his potential. The Auburn QB room isn’t star-studded, but the transition here feels organic — Freeze is taking time to mold his guy rather than importing a quick fix. Whether that patience pays off is another story.
Tennessee: Nico’s Team Now
One of the most anticipated transitions in the SEC is happening in Knoxville. With Joe Milton gone, Nico Iamaleava steps into the spotlight. The five-star quarterback impressed in the Citrus Bowl and has drawn rave reviews for his deep ball and command of Josh Heupel’s fast-paced offense.
This is perhaps the most “natural” change in the entire conference. Iamaleava was recruited to be the guy, and now it’s his turn. With weapons like Bru McCoy and a reloaded offensive line, Tennessee’s ceiling may hinge on how quickly Nico can adapt to being the face of the program.
South Carolina: Portal Roulette
With Spencer Rattler off to the NFL, Shane Beamer is searching for a new signal-caller. Enter LaNorris Sellers, a sophomore with limited experience, and Ohio State transfer Devin Brown, who never fully broke through in Columbus.
This feels like a gamble. Sellers has upside, but Brown is a mystery box. The Gamecocks are hoping one of the two can stabilize a team that’s struggled to find consistent quarterback play since Rattler’s highs in 2022. Beamer is under pressure, and another year of instability under center could turn up the heat.
Kentucky: Looking for the Next Levis or Leary
Mark Stoops has used the transfer portal to plug the quarterback position for years, and 2025 is no different. After stints with Will Levis and Devin Leary, the Wildcats signed Georgia backup Brock Vandagriff, hoping his untapped potential shines in Liam Coen’s offense.
It’s a sensible transition — Vandagriff has the physical tools, and Kentucky’s offense has a proven track record with QBs who needed a second chance. The real question is whether he can be the kind of game-changer who elevates the entire team.
Missouri: Continuity Reigns
Amid all the chaos elsewhere, Missouri is one of the few SEC programs returning a starting quarterback. Brady Cook is back for his senior year after leading the Tigers to a 10-win season and earning second-team All-SEC honors.
Cook’s return gives Missouri stability, chemistry, and credibility. This isn’t a quarterback “change,” but it’s worth noting as a contrast to the upheaval elsewhere. If Cook builds on last season, Missouri could be a dark-horse playoff contender.
Mississippi State: Will Rogers Out, Transfer In
After Will Rogers’ record-setting career in Starkville, new coach Jeff Lebby will turn to Baylor transfer Sawyer Robertson or possibly 2024 freshman recruit Michael Van Buren. Rogers was a staple of the Mike Leach air raid; this offense will look different.
Robertson feels like a fit for Lebby’s uptempo spread system, but he’s largely untested. This is one of those QB changes that feels necessary but awkward — a stylistic reset that might come with early growing pains.
Arkansas: A Fresh Start Without KJ
KJ Jefferson’s time in Fayetteville is over, and with it goes the last piece of what once looked like a high-upside Razorbacks offense. Sam Pittman’s job may hinge on whether former Boise State QB Taylen Green can bring new life to the program.
Green is athletic, has a big arm, and fits well into a reworked Arkansas scheme. But the pressure is immense, and the rest of the roster is undergoing changes too. It’s not a natural transition — it’s a total reboot.
Texas and Oklahoma Join the Fray
Adding two programs with their own QB stories, the SEC becomes even more crowded.
Texas returns Quinn Ewers, though Arch Manning looms. If Ewers falters, the fanbase will demand Manning sooner rather than later. Oklahoma, meanwhile, turns to Jackson Arnold, a five-star recruit who’s been groomed for this role behind Dillon Gabriel. Arnold’s transition feels more natural than most — a handoff rather than a disruption.
The Bottom Line
The SEC has always been a quarterback-driven league, even in its grind-it-out past. But in 2025, the quarterback situation across the conference is as volatile and fascinating as ever. With a new 12-team College Football Playoff format, the margin for error shrinks, and programs that get their quarterback pick right will have a massive edge.
Some, like Tennessee and LSU, are entering a new chapter with confidence. Others, like Florida and South Carolina, are rolling the dice and hoping something clicks. And then there are programs like Alabama, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M — stocked with talent but still waiting for a quarterback to take control.
QB changes may be plentiful in the SEC, but only a few of them will prove fruitful. In a league where the lights burn brightest, the quarterbacks who adapt fastest will define the season.
