The following phrase has not been uttered often through the years, but it’s more true this year than ever before: Mississippi football has a leg up on the state of Alabama this year, thanks in large part to superior quarterback play in the Magnolia State.

Ole Miss senior Bo Wallace and Mississippi State junior Dak Prescott have simply been better than Alabama’s Blake Sims and Auburn’s Nick Marshall this year, and it’s going to pay major dividends as these four teams aim to sort out the SEC West down the stretch.

All four SEC schools in those two states are ranked in the current AP top 10, and all four quarterbacks rank among the best signal callers in the conference.

Normally the two states are focused on their own in-state rivalries, but this year the rivalry has extended across state borders, as the longstanding powers in the state of Alabama aim to fend off the up-and-coming programs of Mississippi.

So let’s add some fuel to the fire, shall we? Let’s compare the teams from these two states, and more specifically, let’s compare their quarterbacks.

Yes, Marshall led Auburn to an SEC championship and came 13 seconds from winning a national title just last year. And while Marshall is very capable as the leader of Gus Malzahn’s offense, let’s not give him sole credit for what last year’s team accomplished. He’s a great runner but a below-average passer, and when paired with a new starter in Blake Sims who has yet to beat a ranked opponent, the Alabama tandem is not as impressive as one would think.

Statistically, Mississippi’s quarterbacks are better. Wallace leads all four in passing with 1,522 yards through the air, and Prescott leads all four in rushing with 455 yards on the ground. Prescott and Wallace both rank in the top three in the SEC in quarterback rating, while Marshall doesn’t even crack the top five, sitting behind a guy like Brandon Allen, who is never discussed among the best quarterbacks in the conference.

And say what you will about Wallace’s turnover problems, but Wallace has carried a heavy load without any semblance of a running game to balance the Rebels offense. He’s thrown the ball 34 more times than any other player in this discussion, and often faces an array of coverages from defenses who don’t have to respect the run. For the record, he’s also thrown 14 touchdowns by himself, while Marshall and Sims have combined to throw for just 16.

The Mississippi tandem has played better in big games, too. Prescott and Wallace are 3-0 against ranked teams (all ranked in the top 10), while Sims and Marshall are just 2-1 against ranked foes this year (none of which was in the top 10 at kickoff). Not only are their numbers better, but so are their defining games.

Wallace had the best game of his career in beating Alabama, while Sims looked pedestrian at best in leading his team to just 10 points on offense. Prescott has gone from virtually anonymous to the top of the Heisman watch list in the span of two games against ranked foes, while Marshall had arguably his worst game of the season against a ranked Kansas State team that has been quiet since the loss to Auburn.

Lastly, Wallace and Prescott are better leaders than Sims and Marshall, which is the most important intangible for a quarterback in a conference as tough as the SEC. Wallace maximizes the impact of talented athletes all around him, while Prescott has led every player on the offense — be it Josh Robinson, De’Runnya Wilson, the offensive line, etc. — to career years on offense.

Sims and Marshall are also tremendous leaders, but not to the extent Wallace and Prescott are. Sims is very popular among his Crimson Tide teammates, but he’ll need more than five career starts to build the kind of rapport Prescott and Wallace have in their respective offenses. Marshall also commands the trust of his teammates, but he’s just one of many threats in Gus Malzahn’s offense; it’s not as though Marshall is commanding the offense the same way the other three have this year.

Alabamans, I know you’re outraged. I know you’re wondering why one great weekend in Mississippi is beginning to outdo years of prominence by Alabama and Auburn. But when looking solely at the present season, accomplishments of years past are rendered meaningless. You have to put aside Saban’s rings and Malzahn/Marshall’s conference title, and focus solely on what those two teams have done this year. It’s been good, but not great.

Mississippi, and it’s quarterbacks, have been great. It wasn’t just one exciting weekend in Mississippi; that weekend was the culmination of what had been building in the Magnolia State all year, and while the two teams capitalized on a national stage, it was nothing different than either team had done all year.

It all starts with the play of Prescott and Wallace under center. They’re the better quarterback tandem between the two states, and they’re here to stay. Sorry, Alabama, but this is just something you’ll have to get used to.