Alabama rumors: CBS insider puts odds on intense QB1 battle, with major caveat

Alabama has been set at the quarterback position for the better part of a decade. From Jalen Hurts to Tua Tagovailoa, then Mac Jones, Bryce Young, Jalen Milroe, and Ty Simpson. Now, there is a battle for the QB1 job at Alabama between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack.

Now, it is starting to become clearer who will be starting under center against ECU, according to Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer.

“One source put it in the 60-40 range that Russell ends up starting the Crimson Tide’s opener against ECU. Another put it at 55-45. Russell is a former No. 2 overall recruit from the 2025 class who Alabama paid handsomely to sign, and then eschewed hitting the transfer portal for a quarterback to replace Ty Simpson in part because that would have scared off Russell, so there’s plenty of logic that suggests the Tide are pulling for him to win the job,” the duo wrote.

Russell was a five-star recruit out of Texas. He joined Alabama for the 2025 season, sitting as the reserve quarterback behind Simpson and Mack. He appeared in two games in 2025, going 11-15 for 143 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, Austin Mack began his career at Washington under Kalen DeBoer. Mack would follow DeBoer to Alabama, where he has been a backup. In his two seasons at Alabama, he has appeared in five games, completing 26 of 35 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

While Russell seems to be locking down the top spot, there is a caveat.

“In order to lock that down, though, Russell will have to improve his consistency. Sources have also shared that there’s still an element of unknown in terms of how he’ll look and respond at points when the defense is able to hit him, which hasn’t happened often this offseason,” Zenitz and Hummer continued.

Alabama is hoping to return to the playoffs in 2026, and open its season against ECU on September 5.