Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt still haven’t named starting quarterbacks. However, time will force their hands soon.

Backup quarterbacks are in many ways just one play away from taking over the starting gig, and having a backup with game experience is a major luxury to have.

We project the SEC’s top five known backup quarterbacks for 2015:

5. Drew Barker, Kentucky: Patrick Towles is one of the best SEC quarterbacks that nobody is talking about. Drew Barker, however, gave Towles a run for his money this year. Maybe the competition wasn’t as close as the coaching staff was letting on, but hopefully, that competition made Towles even better.

4. Drew Lock, Missouri: Missouri’s freshman quarterback Drew Lock has been one of the biggest stories of the preseason for the Tigers. He bullied his way into second-string reps, and he looked great doing it. Is there a quarterback controversy? I’m certainly not ready to go that far yet, but should Maty Mauk struggle, Gary Pinkel may look Lock’s direction. The true freshman proved in this fall camp he’s more than capable of carrying the offense, but he’d be better suited to redshirt this season.

3. Kyler Murray, Texas A&M: Starter Kyle Allen is set to have a monster season at the helm of Kevin Sumlin’s offense, but Kyler Murray is the future. And it’s a bright future. Everyone in college football is excited to see the Gatorade National Player of the Year. With Murray one play away, we may see him sooner rather than later. The dual-threat signal caller faces lofty expectations in College Station.

2. Treon Harris, Florida: It’s likely Will Grier will get the start, but regardless, both quarterbacks will play in game one, according to Jim McElwain. Harris may indeed become the guy at some point during the season, because the Gators may need a mobile quarterback with so many offensive line question marks. Harris finished with 1,019 yards, nine touchdowns and four INTs, along with 332 rushing yards and three touchdowns.

1. Anthony Jennings, LSU: Unless something major happens, Brandon Harris will be LSU’s starting quarterback. We can already project Anthony Jennings to be the backup. Jennings, however, shouldn’t get too comfortable in a back-up role, because he may be called upon at some point during the season, depending on how Harris performs. Jennings finished 2014 throwing for 1,611 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven INTs.

A look at the impact on the landscape when teams announce starting quarterbacks:

  • Alabama’s quarterback battle is very much up in the air. Jake Coker, Alec Morris and Cooper Bateman are the three vying for the job, and nobody knows which direction Nick Saban will go. The Crimson Tide could even play two quarterbacks in the opener. Most likely, Alabama’s backup quarterback will either be Coker or Morris, and both of those signal callers are good enough to check into the top five.
  • Along with Alabama, Georgia’s job could go either way. Brice Ramsey and Greyson Lambert are the two to watch, and both quarterbacks are certainly good enough to check into the top five once the starter is named.