August 24, 2026
Alabama Names Keelon Russell Starting QB Over Senior Austin Mack
The redshirt freshman beat out senior Austin Mack for the starting role ahead of a marquee October matchup with Georgia.
Alabama has named redshirt freshman Keelon Russell its starting quarterback, the program announced Sunday, giving the job to the former five-star prospect over senior Austin Mack heading into the 2026 season.
The competition dated back to January. Mack had served as the primary backup behind Ty Simpson last season, appearing in several games including Alabama's blowout loss to Indiana. In those appearances he completed 24 of 32 passes for 228 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions — a clean but limited audition.
Russell, a member of the class of 2025, arrives with a high ceiling built on a standout prep career. Originally a three-star commit to SMU as of September 2023, his recruitment trajectory shifted sharply as his production soared. He threw for 3,483 yards and 38 touchdowns with just three interceptions in 2023, then followed with 4,177 yards, 55 touchdowns, and five interceptions in 2024 — numbers that elevated him to a five-star rating and the No. 2 quarterback in the country. He flipped his commitment from SMU to Alabama on June 4, 2024, and signed with the Crimson Tide on December 4, 2024.
Georgia Looms in October
Russell's first significant test on the national stage is circled on the calendar: Alabama hosts Georgia on October 10, 2026. The matchup carries added historical weight, as the last time Georgia faced an Alabama underclassman quarterback was the 2022 national championship, when Bryce Young — the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner and SEC Championship game victor over the Bulldogs — started for the Crimson Tide. Georgia won that title game 33-18.
On the other sideline, Georgia enters 2026 with its own quarterback story. Gunner Stockton secured the starting job during the 2025 offseason after Carson Beck transferred to Miami. Stockton made his first start in the 2025 Sugar Bowl against Notre Dame, stepping in after Beck suffered a torn UCL in the SEC Championship game against Texas. The October meeting between the two programs will feature a pair of quarterbacks who each won their jobs under unusual circumstances, adding another layer to an already high-profile rivalry game.
