Although they started slow, by the end of the game, Kentucky football stood tall after a 34-17 victory over Vanderbilt, and quarterback Kenny Minchey was a big reason for that, as he has been all season.
Minchey has been one of the nation's most efficient quarterbacks this season. Outside of a tough second half against the Alabama Crimson Tide, he has avoided turnovers, and his clean performances are a big reason why Kentucky has pulled out so many close wins. Against Vanderbilt, he was 19-of-26 for 203 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for a score.
Around the rest of the SEC, the best performance came from LSU Tigers QB Sam Leavitt. Meanwhile, there were struggles among the top guys. Trinidad Chambliss tossed three interceptions, Byrum Brown was held in check, while John Mateer avoided turnovers, and Arch Manning got Texas back in the win column.
So, how do the quarterbacks of the SEC stack up after week eight of the season. Here are all 16, including Kenny Minchey, ranked from No. 16 to No. 1.
16. Jared Curtis - Vanderbilt
- Last week: 15
As a freshman, there was always going to be growing pains. He shows flashed of brilliance, but two more turnovers helped Vanderbilt fall to Kentucky on Saturday.
15. Marcel Reed - Texas A&M
- Last week: 13
It was been a tough season for both Reed and the Aggies, who expected to be a playoff team. In their loss on Saturday, Reed threw two more picks, and fumbled three times.
14. K.J. Jackson - Arkansas
- Last week: 14
Jackson and the Razorbacks were on a bye in week eight. It hasn't been an ideal season so far, but he'll try to close the season strongly.
13. George MacIntyre - Tennessee
- Last week: 11
Tennessee's running game carries their offense, and it has worked very well. When it's not working, though, MacIntyre struggles. His fumble in the closing minutes against South Carolina cost the Vols the game.
12. John Mateer - Oklahoma
- Last week: 16
Oklahoma doesn't need Mateer to be spectacular to win. They just need him to play clean football, which he did on Saturay. He threw for 283 yards and a couple of touchdowns with no intercpetions.
11. Byrum Brown - Auburn
- Last week: 9
Brown certainly wasn't bad against LSU, but he was shut down by a very good Tigers defense. Auburn, as a whole, couldn't get the offense going, and Brown has to be more consistent at that.
10. Aaron Philo - Florida
- Last week: 10
The Gators were on a bye this week. Philo just needs to be a good game manager, and let Jadan Baugh go to work.
9. Arch Manning - Texas
- Last week: 12
Manning threw two interceptions, but he made some terrific throws, and led the Longhorns to another big win over a ranked team. When he's on, Manning is very good, and has the tools to be even better.
8. Kamario Taylor - Mississippi State
- Last week: 8
Taylor is an elite talent, but hasn't played for a few weeks now, and Mississippi State is struggling without him.
7. Gunner Stockton - Georgia
- Last week: 6
Stockton and the Bulldogs were on a bye this week. He has had a great season, but is looking to bounce back from a tough performance in Georgia's only loss.
6. Austin Simmons - Missouri
- Last week: 5
Simmons was on a bye this week, and like Stockton, is coming off a less-than-stellar game in the previous week.
5. Keelon Russell - Alabama
- Last week: 7
The ceiling for Russell is as high as anyone in college football, but he's still a work in progress. This week, he threw for 300 yards and 3 scores in a win over Texas A&M.
4. LaNorris Sellers - South Carolina
- Last week: 4
Sellers led the Gamecocks to a win, and made plays when it counted the most. He still relies on his legs too often at times, and needs to be willing to make throws.
3. Trinidad Chambliss - Ole Miss
- Last week: 1
Ole Miss lost a close one to Texas, and Chambliss struggled. He completed less than half of his passes and threw three interceptions. Overall, he was out-dueled by Arch Manning, and will attempt to bounce back.
2. Sam Leavitt - LSU
- Last week: 3
Leavitt has heated up, and as LSU gets healthy on offense, he continues to get better. On Saturday, he threw for 388 yards and 3 touchdowns, and ran for another score.
1. Kenny Minchey - Kentucky
- Last week: 2
Minchey has played clean game after clean game this season. For the season, he has 1,700 yards passing with 14 touchdowns and just 1 interception.
This article originally appeared on UK Wildcats Wire: Kentucky's Kenny Minchey rank among SEC QBs after Vandy win