The upcoming campaign will be the SEC’s third season as a 16-team conference following the additions of Oklahoma and Texas in 2024. Under the league’s scheduling format, each program will face three permanent rivals and six rotating opponents over the next four years. For Tennessee, those permanent matchups are Alabama, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt.
The Volunteers enter the new season facing uncertainty at quarterback following the departure of Joey Aguilar. Head coach Josh Heupel has yet to name a starter, with the competition featuring early enrollee freshman Brandon Faizon, redshirt freshmen George MacIntyre and Mason Phillips, along with Colorado transfer Ryan Staub.
Speaking during spring practice, Heupel stressed the importance of allowing the competition to continue through the offseason rather than rushing a decision.
“Don’t expect a guy to be named here during the course of spring ball,” Heupel said. “It’s important that everyone in that room continues to develop, learns the system, and returns for training camp ready to compete and earn the job in front of their teammates.”
Among Tennessee’s quarterbacks, George MacIntyre received the highest overall rating in EA Sports College Football 27, earning an 80 overall and ranking 12th among SEC quarterbacks.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss tops the conference with a 93 overall rating, narrowly ahead of Texas star Arch Manning (91) and LSU’s Sam Leavitt (90). Auburn’s Byrum Brown and Oklahoma’s John Mateer share fourth place with identical 89 overall ratings.
Top-Rated SEC Quarterbacks in EA Sports College Football 27
| Rank | Quarterback | School | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trinidad Chambliss | Ole Miss | 93 |
| 2 | Arch Manning | Texas | 91 |
| 3 | Sam Leavitt | LSU | 90 |
| 4 | Byrum Brown | Auburn | 89 |
| 4 | John Mateer | Oklahoma | 89 |
| 6 | Marcel Reed | Texas A&M | 88 |
| 7 | LaNorris Sellers | South Carolina | 86 |
| 8 | KaMario Taylor | Mississippi State | 83 |
| 9 | Austin Mack | Alabama | 82 |
| 9 | Keelon Russell | Alabama | 82 |
| 11 | Austin Simmons | Missouri | 81 |
| 12 | George MacIntyre | Tennessee | 80 |
| 12 | Kenny Minchey | Kentucky | 80 |
| 14 | Deuce Knight | Ole Miss | 79 |
| 15 | Ryan Puglisi | Georgia | 77 |
The ratings provide an early benchmark ahead of the 2026 campaign, but Tennessee’s quarterback battle remains one of the conference’s biggest storylines as the Volunteers prepare to open fall camp with no clear starter yet established.
