Keelon Russell and Austin Mack are competing to be Alabama’s starting quarterback.

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Alabama enters 2026 with more questions than it’s used to, and they all start at quarterback.

After Ty Simpson declared for the 2026 NFL Draft and was selected No. 13 overall by the Los Angeles Rams, Kalen DeBoer has big shoes to fill. Alabama finished last season 11-4, went 7-1 in SEC play and earned an 8.39 BiteScore before falling to eventual national champion Indiana in the second round of the College Football Playoff.

Unlike most years in Tuscaloosa, there isn’t a clear answer under center.

Redshirt junior Austin Mack and sophomore Keelon Russell remain locked in a battle for the starting job. Both saw limited action last season, with Mack throwing for 228 yards and two touchdowns while Russell finished with 143 yards and two scores. Neither has separated himself yet, making quarterback the biggest storyline to watch heading into Week 1.

Whoever wins the job will inherit a talented group of weapons.

Wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is looking to bounce back after a slight dip in production last season. Alabama’s offense also took a step back, dropping from 39.4 points per game in 2024-25 to 29.5 last year. A new quarterback could provide the spark both Coleman-Williams and the offense need to return to form.

DeBoer also added more firepower through the transfer portal and recruiting. NC State transfer Noah Rogers joins the receiver room alongside true freshman Cederian Morgan, giving Alabama another pair of playmakers to complement Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks.

Defensively, Alabama has plenty of production to replace.

The Crimson Tide lost linebackers Deontae Lawson and Justin Jefferson, who combined for 159 tackles last season, along with defensive end LT Overton, defensive tackle Tim Keenan III and cornerback Domani Jackson to the NFL Draft.

Still, the defense returns plenty of talent. Edge rusher Kelby Collins, cornerbacks Cameron Calhoun, Zabien Brown and Dijon Lee, safeties Bray Hubbard and Red Morgan, and defensive linemen Yhonzae Pierre and Jah-Marien Latham all return to Tuscaloosa.

Wommack also attacked the transfer portal, adding USC defensive tackle Deven Thompkins, Mississippi State defensive tackle Kedrick Bingley-Jones and Mercer cornerback Carmelo O’Neal to help replace the departing veterans.

Talent has never been the question at Alabama. The biggest challenge will be finding stability at quarterback and getting the offense back to the level Crimson Tide fans expect. If DeBoer gets that answer early, Alabama has more than enough talent on both sides of the ball to once again contend for the SEC and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

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