Two weeks before the season opener against East Carolina, Alabama's QB competition reached its conclusion on Saturday. The Crimson Tide named sophomore Keelon Russell the starter. He beat out senior Austin Mack in a competitive battle.
To be clear: Russell won the job. Mack didn't lose it. Kalen DeBoer expressed confidence after Thursday's scrimmage that Alabama could win games with either guy at quarterback. The ceiling has always felt higher with Russell, though.
But having Mack on the roster is a luxury. After losing the QB job a year ago to Ty Simpson, many thought Mack might hit the portal after last season, with the former 5-star Russell widely expected to be ready to start in year two.
But Mack chose to stick it out and compete. He should be applauded for that by Alabama fans. In this era, what he chose to do is rare. He would have had a lot of opportunities in the Transfer Portal with clearer paths to a starting job than he was going to find by competing with a phenom like Russell.
Instead, Mack returned to Tuscaloosa, and now he'll provide DeBoer and the Crimson Tide with a rare luxury.
Austin Mack will be one of college football's top backup quarterbacks
DeBoer's ability to hold on to both Russell and Mack after last season was an underrated roster retention move. Otherwise, Alabama probably would have had to be active in the Transfer Portal to find a veteran who was comfortable with being Russell's backup. If not, the Crimson Tide would be an injury away from handing the keys to a freshman in Jett Thomalla or Tayden Evan-Kaawa.
Mack gives Alabama a comfortable insurance policy if something happens to Russell. He doesn't have a ton of career snaps, but he's a capable QB in this league. He looked poised in the Rose Bowl when he replaced an injured Simpson in Pasadena against Indiana. He completed 11-of-16 passes for 103 yards in the loss.
He looked like a capable starter for Alabama in that second half. He performed well enough in the spring, summer, and fall to win the job. Unfortunately for him, he was up against a truly elite QB who has the potential to be as good as anyone in the country.
Russell raises the ceiling for Alabama in 2026, and he clearly showed throughout practice that his floor wasn't much - if any - lower than Mack's.
Mack will be a luxury for Alabama in 2026. Most programs would be in serious trouble if the starter went down. The Crimson Tide would be able to hand the keys to a veteran quarterback who is entering his fourth year in DeBoer's system.
The worst-case scenario for Mack is that he spends the year on the bench while continuing to develop in the background, and then he hits the Transfer Portal after the season with numerous programs competing for his services with high-dollar offers.
For now, he'll keep his head down and keep working. He could be just a play away from having his moment in Tuscaloosa.
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