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SEC Football: Quarterback power rankings

By Kevin Miller

The surprise SEC football team in 2023 is the Missouri Tigers, led by quarterback Brady Cook. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports
The surprise SEC football team in 2023 is the Missouri Tigers, led by quarterback Brady Cook. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /
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SEC Football
One of the most disappointing SEC football teams in recent years has been Auburn. New head coach Hugh Freeze has had a tough time with his quarterback position in 2023, so the Tigers appear destined for another poor finish. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports /

SEC Football Quarterback Power Rankings:
No. 14 Auburn’s Payton Thorne

A stat that is wild but true: dating back to last season, Auburn has not thrown for over 100 yards in their last six Power-5 contests. Michigan State transfer quarterback Payton Thorne and his uber-athletic backup (and last year’s end-of-season starter) Robby Ashford simply have not had any success as passers in the SEC.

Auburn has been able to run the ball with some moderate success, but against good competition, opponents can crowd the box and dare Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze and offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery to rely on the wobbly arms of Thorne and Ashford.

Both Thorne and Ashford have been good runners at times, but the most important job of a quarterback is to be able to get the ball to all of a team’s playmakers and lead an offense that doesn’t turn the ball over. So far in 2023, the Tigers have 8 turnovers and are averaging under 80 yards of offense through the air.

Ouch.

Thorne’s overall ineffectiveness has led to fans calling for Ashford to start, but Ashford has been even worse as a passer than Thorne. Perhaps his advantage over Thorne in the run game could make a difference on the Plains. Perhaps it just doesn’t matter.

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