Kalen DeBoer has a plan for naming the next Alabama football starter at quarterback. Amid the intense competition between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, DeBoer intends to name a starter two weeks ahead of the first game.
DeBoer has also said that he does not favor a two-quarterback system. Which begs a question of how much work QB2 will get with the first unit against East Carolina and Kentucky. Mack and Russell have serious deficits in meaningful game experience. That needs to change before the Crimson Tide's difficult stretch in October with Georgia, followed by Tennessee in Knoxville, Texas A&M, and after a bye week, LSU in Baton Rouge.
Lack of meaningful game experience needs not to be a problem for Alabama's QB2 by the Georgia date in Tuscaloosa on Oct. 10.
For the Alabama Football QBs, how much is enough?
Going into the 2026 season, Austin Mack has thrown 35 college passes. Keelon Russell has thrown just 15. Both of them need game experience reading defenses, and more importantly, exhibiting the calm, confident leadership needed to win big games against top teams.
Why not use the Alabama Crimson Tide's first five games as the laboratory to grow two leaders and two starters? East Carolina will not shock the college football world against the Crimson Tide. Some Alabama football fans are concerned about the Game 2 road contest against Kentucky. There is little reason for concern. Florida State will likely be improved, though Mike Norvell as head coach and OC may not be an upgrade over Gus Malzahn as OC. Alabama should be a good two touchdowns better than the Noles. A two-touchdown victory over South Carolina and a three-touchdown victory over Mississippi State are possible.
Kalen DeBoer can name his QB1 in August, but in September and the first Saturday in October, both Mack and Russell must get considerable work with the first-unit offense. That is how to prepare for the later four-game run when a QB1 injury and an unprepared backup could spell doom for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Note: Player stats provided by Sports Reference
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