There’s always a lot of talk surrounding college football in the preseason, particularly about which quarterbacks are the best. A recent national tier list placing Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons in Tier Five has stirred major controversy, especially when compared to Arch Manning, who still hasn’t taken a meaningful snap for the Texas Longhorns.
Manning’s reputation and family background, with his recruiting profile, give his name a lot of weight, but some say that placing Simmons in Tier Five does not give him enough credit. The debate centers on media impartiality, preferential treatment for outstanding teams, and the evaluation of emerging talent in the SEC.
College Football QB Tier List Sparks Controversy Over Ole Miss And Arch Manning Comparisons
Austin Simmons, Ole Miss’s new starting quarterback, has been ranked significantly lower than some of his peers, including Arch Manning, on several national analyst lists.
According to Steven Willis, host of Locked On Ole Miss, media stories about top programs and star recruits mean Simmons does not get the recognition he deserves. Sportswriter Jake Crain, who was interviewed in the podcast, dropped comments on the rank list.
“I get that the sample size has not been a lot, right? But, we’re projecting…What blows my mind is that some people are willing to say Arch Manning is a top-five quarterback already with that small of a sample size, but then Austin Simmons just gets pushed off into tier five…But we know how this works, we know the clickbait and the rage bait of the list”.
While the quarterback debate rages, Ole Miss’s defensive line is receiving high praise as a key reason for the Rebels’ College Football Playoff aspirations.
Crain continued, “I’m less concerned about Ole Miss offensively than I am about them retooling their defensive line.. I love their linebacker position…But I’m very interested to see how Ole Miss looks across the line of scrimmage”.
Willis contributed his thoughts on the team’s defensive line, saying that he has no doubts about it and that the team recruited well. Overall, he insists that now is the time for the media to stop relying on their impressions of prominent coaches and look instead at how a team currently performs.
Looking Ahead
Going into the 2025 season, the public will watch Austin Simmons closely to show that he belongs with the SEC’s best quarterbacks.
Also, with a real force on the defensive line, the Rebels may field one of the most impressive defenses in the conference, a major reason why Ole Miss is considered a top playoff contender.
KEEP READING: 2025 Way-Too-Early College Football Top 25 Power Rankings
Quarterback rankings show that what teams hope for at the start of the season can change fast, and players like Austin Simmons could turn things around this year in the SEC.
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