Mark Ingram isn’t hiding where he leans in Alabama’s quarterback race. On the latest Triple Option podcast, the former Tide Heisman winner said Keelon Russell has the edge as the battle heads into fall camp.
“I’m looking forward to Keelon Russell at Alabama,” Ingram said." They haven't announced a QB1 yet, but I think he kind of has the upper hand right now.
We have Austin Mack as well. Tall, physical guy, so I'm looking forward to seeing how that competition plays out at Alabama."
That tracks with the way plenty of Alabama fans have already viewed the competition. Russell, the 5-star sophomore, picked up momentum after spring practice and turned heads in the A-Day scrimmage, where he outperformed Mack. That showing pushed a lot of fans to treat the job like it was already his, even though Mack was dealing with an injury and not every practice was visible to the public.
Still, the staff hasn’t announced a starter, and this is expected to stay a real competition into fall camp. Mack’s seniority could keep him first in drills early on, and his experience gives him a clear case. He’s the kind of quarterback who can step in and run the offense.
Russell, though, is the one with the higher ceiling. His dual-threat ability could be the piece Alabama needs in the run game in 2026, and his arm talent gives him the ability to make every throw this system asks for.
From the time Russell surged during the 2025 cycle and finished as the No. 2 overall player, Alabama fans have been waiting for this moment. That wait may be nearing its end.
In Other News...
Auburn Just Crossed Into A New SEC Pay For Play Fight
Auburns latest postseason setup has pushed the conversation around player compensation a step further, with Peach Bowl Inc. creating a deal tied to the Atlanta game that blends NIL money with a share of ticket sales. The arrangement covers 24 Tigers players and comes with a massive ticket allotment, including 20,645 seats for Auburn and 3,000 for Baylor, making this more than just a standard bowl-week financial wrinkle.
For Alabama fans, the bigger significance is how openly this kind of structure is being embraced inside the SECs orbit. Auburn Athletic Director John Cohen has shown no concern about the nature of the compensation, which only adds to the sense that these game-linked pay arrangements are becoming part of the new normal, even as the details continue to spark debate across the sport. [Read more 🡒]
Alabamas Quarterback Battle Is Starting To Feel Like A Bigger Problem
Kalen DeBoers quarterback decision has become one of the most closely watched questions around Alabama this summer, with Keelon Russell and Austin Mack still locked in a competition that has yet to produce a clear answer. DeBoer has said publicly that there is no timetable for naming a starter, which keeps the focus on how the staff is weighing the two passers and what each would mean for an offense trying to settle in before the season.
The longer that choice drags on, the more it shapes the conversation around the Crimson Tides outlook, because the position is tied directly to how high this team can climb. Alabama also has other quarterbacks in the program and more talent on the way with recruits Elijah Haven and Trent Seaborn arriving, which only adds to the sense that DeBoer will eventually have to make a call and live with the ripple effects. [Read more 🡒]