The newest preseason SEC quarterback rankings from Pro Football Focus have ignited debate, placing Auburn transfer Byrum Brown at the top of the list ahead of Ole Miss standout Trinidad Chambliss.
The Rankings Debate
Brown, who spent his most recent season in the American Conference, posted impressive numbers, but his résumé lacks the wear of SEC competition, raising questions about the fairness of the placement.
Chambliss, meanwhile, dominated the SEC in 2025, leading the league in passing yards, earning SEC Newcomer of the Year honors, and guiding Ole Miss to a College Football Playoff semifinal despite facing some of the nation’s toughest defenses.
Other analyst polls, including Josh Pate’s preseason survey and a CBS Sports ranking, have positioned Chambliss at or near the summit, underscoring a consensus that his performance in a more demanding environment carries greater weight.
Critics argue that PFF’s grading formula, which emphasizes raw production, fails to fully account for variables such as strength of schedule, injury impact, and the qualitative nuances of playing within the SEC, potentially inflating rankings for players with less proven test.
As the conversation continues, the rankings serve as a reminder that quarterback evaluation in college football remains as much an art as a science, and that context may be the most critical metric of all.