It’s a task no one wants, but often drives discussion.

Who is each team’s best player in school history?

There’s no set formula for determining the answers nor specific guidelines used to separate top-tier players from fanbase favorites. This is one man’s opinion centered around who he thinks deserves each SEC program’s highest honor and quarterback’s often have the obvious edge.

Editor’s note: These selections are bound to spark reaction and you may vehemently disagree, but please, keep it civil and state your case. We value your opinion as hardcore SEC fans.

Alabama — Derrick Thomas, LB, 1986-88

If this guy would’ve played at the height of the social media age, Thomas may have earned the label of ‘greatest ever’ on defense, at least during his dominant 1988 season during which he accumulated 27 sacks. He went on to set an NFL record with seven sacks in a single game with the Kansas City Chiefs and was inducted into the Hall of Fame posthumously in 2009. Legendary Crimson Tide offensive lineman John Hannah (1969-72) and three-time All-American linebacker Cornelius Bennett are also solid options here.

Auburn — Bo Jackson, RB, 1982-85

The Tigers’ three-sport star and 1985 Heisman winner is pound for pound one of the best athletes to play in the SEC. Not only was Jackson a star on the diamond and on the track, he bowled over defenses for 4,303 yards rushing and 43 touchdowns during four seasons as Auburn’s featured back.

Arkansas — Darren McFadden, RB, 2005-07

Arguably the most electrifying player in SEC backfield history, McFadden routinely took direct snaps, receptions and punts to the house in Fayetteville as an unstoppable force in the Western Division. The two-time Doak Walker winner, SEC offensive player of the year and Heisman runner-up galloped his way to a school-record 4,590 yards on the ground and was responsible for 51 touchdowns as a collegian over three seasons.

Florida — Tim Tebow, QB, 2006-09

There’s several notable quarterbacks and defensive players who were decorated in similar fashion nationally, but no player assumed the role of leader, warrior and Heisman winner quite like Tebow. The Gators won two national championships during Tebow’s tenure as he helped transition the SEC into a new era of dual-threat passers and high-powered offenses. It’s hard to pick his most memorable moment, but most would point to an emotional ‘I promise’ speech delivered after a home loss to Ole Miss in 2008. Florida would win its next 10 games including the BCS National Championship.

Georgia — Herschel Walker, RB, 1980-82

One of college football’s greatest ballcarriers to ever play, the SEC’s all-time leading rusher was a man amongst boys between the hedges, winning the Heisman in 1982 two seasons after starring as a freshman on Georgia’s national championship squad. The consensus three-time All-American and future College Football Hall of Famer managed 5,259 yards rushing in just three seasons.

Kentucky — Babe Parilli, QB, 1949-51

Quarterback Tim Couch was drafted first overall and shattered every existing passing record with the Wildcats in the late 1990s, but Parilli was the player who started it all in Lexington, leading Kentucky to its first SEC title in 1950 under the direction of Bear Bryant. The two-time All-American was the nation’s top passer during an era of rush-heavy offenses and later played 18 seasons in the professional ranks.

LSU — Tommy Casanova, ATH, 1969-71

The only three-time All-American in LSU football history, Casanova starred at several positions in Baton Rouge including running back, defensive back and return specialist, dominating the SEC as a dynamic playmaker during his tenure. He was plastered on the cover Sport’s Illustrated annual College Football Preview issue in 1971 and often posted his most memorable performances during rare, nationally-televised games.

Mississippi — Archie Manning, QB, 1968-70

Many would put Eli Manning here since his numbers were superior (in a different era) and he won more games, but it was his father who altered the way the we look at the quarterback position from a mobility perspective. Manning won the SEC’s most valuable player honor in 1969 and was a Heisman finalist twice during his tenure on above-average teams.

Mississippi State — Dak Prescott, QB, 2012-15

The toughest call on this list, Prescott admittedly has the edge due to some recency bias but his overall numbers and impact on the program gives him the nod. By the time he leaves after the 2015 season, Prescott will own nearly all major passing records and is the only quarterback to lead Mississippi State to a No. 1 ranking. He doesn’t have the All-American accolades that other Bulldogs have been awarded before him (Art Davis, D.D. Lewis and Fred Smoot among several others), but he’s easily one of the program’s most memorable players.

Missouri — Chase Daniel, QB, 2005-08

This Heisman finalist and conference offensive player of the year in 2007 managed 101 touchdown passes during a brilliant career for Gary Pinkel’s Tigers. At the time of his departure, Daniel held 27 school records and was the only quarterback to ever lead Mizzou to multiple berths in the Big 12 Championship Game.

South Carolina — Connor Shaw, QB, 2010-13

George Rogers has the Heisman hardware and some combination of recent stars Marcus Lattimore and Jadeveon Clowney get the fan vote, but Shaw left South Carolina as the program’s all-time winningest quarterback and undoubtedly most charismatic leader. He never lost a home start in his career, guided the Gamecocks to three consecutive New Years bowl wins as a starter and finished with a winning percentage of 0.843 — by far the best in program history.

Tennessee — Peyton Manning, QB, 1994-97

The greatest pro-style quarterback in league history is Tennessee’s most recognizable alum, a record holder in several major statistical categories and proven winner during his time in Knoxville. The future NFL Hall of Famer is the league’s all-time leader in touchdown passes, has five MVP awards and won Super Bowl XLI. At career’s end, he’ll likely be remembered as the best quarterback to ever play the position, if he doesn’t hold that title already.

Texas A&M — John David Crow, RB, 1955-1957

Before the spectacular Johnny Manziel, there was this all-everything ballcarrier in College Station, the program’s first Heisman winner in 1957. Playing in just seven games as a senior that fall, Crow accounted for 11 touchdowns on offense and five interceptions on defense to lead the Aggies. During the 1956 campaign, Texas A&M beat Texas for the first time in school history. Legendary Aggies coach Bear Bryant reportedly planned to boycott the Heisman Trophy if the award wasn’t presented to his three-down playmaker.

Vanderbilt — Bill Spears, QB, 1925-27

Jordan Matthews, the SEC’s all-time leader in receiving yards and receptions, has the recency edge, but few would argue Spears’ during the early stages of Commodores football. The three-year starter and eventual College Football Hall of Famer earned first-team All-American honors in 1927 after leading Vanderbilt to one of its best seasons in program history at 8-1-2. The commodores were one of four teams to finish without a loss in the 22-member Southern Conference.