Arch Manning Snubbed as SEC’s Elite QB Debate Heats Up

Arch Manning may be one of the biggest names in college football, but not everyone is ready to call the Texas quarterback elite.

That debate got a fresh jolt this week when USA TODAY Sports writer Blake Toppmeyer ranked the SEC’s quarterbacks and placed Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss at the top, with Georgia’s Gunner Stockton also ahead of Manning.

MORE: Texas Gets Trevor Goosby Injury Break as Andre Cojoe Takes Over

That’s enough to get plenty of Texas fans talking.

Toppmeyer called Chambliss “a proven star” and described him as “one of college football’s biggest stars, a charismatic dual threat with Heisman Trophy potential.”

That’s a strong endorsement, especially in a conference loaded with quarterback talent.

Stockton also got the nod over Manning, in part because of what happened when Georgia and Texas met last season.

“Stockton elevates in the big games. He outplayed Arch Manning in their head-to-head duel last November,” Toppmeyer wrote.

That criticism is fair game.

Manning’s 2025 season was uneven early, and the hype surrounding him entering the year often outpaced what he actually put on tape. But by the end of the season, the picture looked much different.

His improvement was obvious, particularly in Texas’ Citrus Bowl win over Michigan, where Manning showed the athleticism and playmaking ability that made him one of the most anticipated quarterbacks in the country.

Toppmeyer acknowledged that growth.

“Manning finished last season much better than he started it,” he wrote, adding that Manning is “an excellent runner who needs more consistency as a passer.”

That’s really the entire 2026 conversation.

Manning doesn’t need to prove he has talent. Everybody already knows that.

He needs to prove he can deliver that talent consistently against elite competition.

Texas has also done its part by surrounding him with more offensive weapons, giving Steve Sarkisian every opportunity to build an attack capable of making another College Football Playoff run.

And the schedule offers Manning a perfect chance to settle the argument himself.

Texas hosts Ole Miss and Chambliss on Oct. 24 in Austin, setting up what could become one of the biggest quarterback showdowns of the SEC season.

Maybe Chambliss deserves the “elite” label today. Maybe Stockton has earned more trust in big games.

MORE: Texas Football’s Brutal 2026 Schedule Could Become Its Biggest Obstacle

But if Manning plays the way Texas believes he can in 2026, those rankings won’t matter much by November.

The fastest way to end the debate is simple.

Win.