Not only has the SEC been considered the staple for menacing defenses and running games, but it's where the quarterback is thought to be a "game manager" at best, or someone who just isn't supposed to get in the way of the smash-mouth identity that prevails in the league.
Times are sure enough changing, though. Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy last year, repping the SEC newcomer Texas A&M. The back-to-back national champion A.J. McCarron has earned a certain level of respect at Alabama, and Georgia's Aaron Murray is an early Heisman Trophy candidate himself.
Here's the Athlon Sports clip that named the SEC as the No. 1 QB conference.
"With three potential All-American signal-callers returning for 2013, the SEC gets the nod as the top quarterback conference. Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel may have trouble repeating last year's numbers, but the sophomore is still in line for another monster season. Alabama's AJ McCarron isn't going to match Manziel's passing totals, but the senior has won back-to-back national titles and tossed just three picks on 314 attempts last year. Georgia's Aaron Murray ranked second nationally in pass efficiency in 2012 and passed for a career-best 36 scores."
Just like the conference in general, the QB list is top heavy in the SEC, but Athlon also acknowledges South Carolina's Connor Shaw, Mississippi State's Tyler Russell and Ole Miss' Bo Wallace.
The Pac-12 came in at No. 2 on the list. It was interesting to see the Big 12 all the way down at No. 6. That conference's reputation is really shrinking as of late, in size and talent.
