Facing the guy who might be the top quarterback taken in the coming NFL Draft is hard enough.

Doing so under an interim defensive coordinator might just make things that much more challenging for Auburn when it faces quarterback Paxton Lynch and Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl at noon Wednesday at Legion Field.

Lynch, a junior from suburban Orlando, Fla., who figures to go high in the draft should he bypass his senior as expected, earned first-team, American Athletic Conference honors this season after throwing for 3,670 yards and completing 69 percent (280 of 406) of his passes with 28 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Blessed with great and mobility at 6-foot-7, 245 pounds, Lynch has impressed pro scouts with his poise, his touch and ability to make all the throws.

Here’s a look at five of the best non-SEC quarterbacks playing in the South.

1. Deshaun Watson (Clemson): The Gainesville, Ga., standout and Davey O’Brien Award winner for the nation’s best quarterback led top-ranked Clemson to an undefeated regular season that includes an ACC Championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. Watson, who is just a sophomore, ranks third nationally in completion percentage (69.5 percent) and stands ninth in total offense. He is the only player in the nation with at least 800 yards rushing and 3,500 yards passing. The ACC Most Valuable Player, Watson has 30 touchdown passes and 11 rushing ones for 41 touchdowns, good for fifth in the country.

2. Paxton Lynch (Memphis): He tied an FBS record by throwing seven touchdown passes in the first half in the Tigers’ 63-0 spanking of SMU on Nov. 28, and drew more national notice in October when he lit up a stingy Ole Miss defense to the tune of 384 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-24 upset win.

3. Brad Kaaya (Miami): The sophomore ended the regular season ranked atop the ACC in passing yards per game at 274.5 yards per game. Kaaya threw for more than 3,000 yards for the second consecutive season. He led Miami to a bowl game and finished the year with 3,238 yards and 16 touchdowns with just five interceptions.

4. Seth Russell (Baylor): The fourth-year junior was enjoying his first season as the starter until suffering damage to his cervical vertebra against Iowa State on Oct. 24 that required season-ending surgery. Through seven games, Russell threw for 2,104 yards and 29 touchdowns while also rushing for 402 yards and six additional scores. He was the point man on a prolific Baylor offense that was averaging a staggering 686.1 yards per game to pace all NCAA schools.

5. Jacoby Brissett (N.C. State): The former Florida Gator completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,448 yards and 19 touchdowns with four interceptions to lead the Wolfpack into the Belk Bowl against Mississippi State. For his N.C. State career, Brissett has thrown just nine interceptions in 737 pass attempts for a rate of one pick per every 82 throws. He has posted two of the top eight interception-free streaks in ACC history.