Alabama Names QB1 After Keelon Russell vs. Austin Mack Battle, New Rumors Reveal Ahead of CFB Season

Alabama's offense will be led by sophomore quarterback Keelon Russell to start the 2026 season.

Per ESPN's Pete Thamel, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer is going with Russell over Austin Mack after the two competed for the starting job throughout camp.

Russell and Mack both played behind Ty Simpson last season. Mack received more playing time in 2025, appearing in four games and attempting 32 passes. Russell had 15 pass attempts in two games.

Speaking to reporters in July about the quarterback competition, DeBoer expressed confidence in both players being able to run the offense at a high level:

"Our quarterbacks do have the belief and trust amongst our entire team. There are different ways where I've seen that, whether it was in the spring or through the summer. There are different conversations, different activities that we do where I really can get a good feel of it being genuine, that our team trusts that whoever steps on the football field and takes those snaps is going to be a guy — and I think that's because they believe in both guys."

Russell arrived in Tuscaloosa last year with tremendous hype. He was a 5-star prospect and No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 class, behind only Bryce Underwood.

Even though Russell had very limited playing time during his freshman season, there is plenty of belief from talent evaluators around the country in his ability to become a star quickly.

"He's got a lot of ability," an SEC general manager told The Athletic's Antonio Morales and Sam Khan Jr. about Russell. "We just haven't seen it on the big stage yet."

Mack, a 4-star recruit in the 2023 class, started his college career at Washington with DeBoer. He redshirted in his first season with the Huskies before transferring to Alabama after DeBoer was hired following Nick Saban's retirement.

The 20-year-old Mack has appeared in five games over the past two seasons. He is 26-of-35 for 267 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Alabama is starting the season ranked No. 13 in the Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll. It's the first time the program has been outside the top 10 in the AP preseason poll since 2008 when Saban was entering his second year as head coach.

The Crimson Tide will kickoff the 2026 season against East Carolina at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 5.