We’ve talked plenty of the quarterback situation on The Plains.

After a three-man quarterback race that was lengthier than some thought it would be, first-year head coach Hugh Freeze finally named junior Michigan State transfer Payton Thorne Auburn’s starter on Aug. 17.

In the spirit of talking quarterbacks and with some of Auburn’s opponents still holding out on naming a starter, it bids the question: Who are the five best opposing quarterbacks the Tigers will see this season?

Arkansas’ KJ Jefferson

Fortunately, by the time Auburn gets to KJ Jefferson, who is arguably the top returning quarterback in the SEC, the Tigers will have plenty of time to iron out wrinkles as they don’t visit Fayetteville until Nov. 11.

In 2022, Jefferson passed for more than 2,600 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Jefferson also completed 68% of his passes last season – a clip that was the fifth-best in the SEC. His quarterback rating of 165.2 ranked second in the SEC behind Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker.

On the ground, Jefferson added another 640 yards and nine touchdowns.

Arkansas is set to replace its four leading receivers and No. 1 tight end and will also be adjusting to the offensive style of first-year offensive coordinator Dan Enos, so Jefferson could have hurdles to overcome as the season unfolds. But on paper, he’s probably the sharpest signal caller Auburn will see in 2023.

LSU’s Jayden Daniels

You won’t find a more experienced quarterback than LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

Entering his fifth season, Daniels has played in more games than any other quarterback in the country with 43 appearances – all of which were starts for Daniels, dating back to 2019 at Arizona State.

Daniels returns to Baton Rouge for his second season with LSU after passing for just less than 3,000 yards, 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. Daniels also boasted efficiency in 2022, completing passes at a 68.6% clip. He added another 885 yards and 11 touchdowns with his legs.

The fact that Daniels piloted LSU to an unprecedented 10-win season last fall – including a win over Alabama – is nothing to scoff at either.

It’s also worth noting that Daniels had the success he did in 2022 with a young offensive line that featured a handful of true freshmen.

Between a more experienced offensive line and the addition of Notre Dame transfer running back Logan Diggs, Daniels approaches the 2023 season with SEC Player of the Year potential.

Auburn is set to see LSU in Baton Rouge on Oct. 14, fresh off a bye week.

Mississippi State’s Will Rogers

If there’s one thing about Mississippi State quarterback Will Rogers, it’s that the kid knows how to find the endzone. Entering his senior season with 81 touchdown passes put him 19 touchdown throws ahead of Kentucky’s Devin Leary, who owns the second-most career touchdown passes in the SEC.

Rogers’ 3,974 passing yards last fall ranked him second amongst the quarterbacks in the league, falling only behind Georgia’s Stetson Bennett, who played three more games than Rogers and tallied 4,127 passing yards.

However, with the changes in Starkville likely to include moving away from the late Mike Leach’s Air Raid offense, Rogers could see a step back in production through the air. And unlike Jefferson and Daniels, Rogers doesn’t pose as a running threat. Last fall Rogers rushed for -172 yards and not one touchdown.

Auburn is set to welcome Rogers and the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Oct. 28.

Georgia’s Carson Beck

When surrounded by elite talent, a quarterback’s stock almost automatically rises.

Such is the case for Carson Beck, Georgia’s newly named starting quarterback, who backed up Stetson Bennett for what felt like an eternity.

But now Beck is getting the keys to the Georgia offense, which returns All-American tight end Brock Bowers and added talented Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett to its arsenal of weapons.

Beck, a junior, has played in just 12 games during his time in Athens, tallying just 486 yards, four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Beck has completed 62% of his 58 passing attempts.

Despite the small sample size, however, Beck (+1800) holds the second-best preseason odds in the SEC, coming second to LSU’s Jayden Daniels (+900).

Auburn will host Beck and Georgia on Sept. 30.

Alabama’s (insert name here)

It isn’t a secret that there’s a long, ongoing quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa.

With the start of the season less than two weeks away, Nick Saban has yet to name a starting quarterback as Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson, Tyler Buchner and Dylan Lonergan are all still tied up in a four-man race.

However, like the case of Georgia’s Beck, one doesn’t need to know or have seen much of Alabama’s starting quarterback to know that he’ll be surrounded by enough talent to elevate his play beyond the likes of other quarterbacks around the country.

Many believe Milroe might be separating himself as Alabama’s starter for Week 1 against Middle Tennessee. But that confidence drops off considerably when those same folks are asked who might be the starter in the long run – which is what matters to Auburn, considering the Tigers and the Tide don’t see each other until late November.