Keelon Russell has put himself in the Heisman conversation, even if the path to the trophy still looks steep.
That’s where Alabama stands heading into this week’s game against Vanderbilt. After the Crimson Tide went on the road and knocked off rival LSU, Russell’s name is at least in the mix, even if he’s not sitting near the top of the board. According to FanDuel, he has the sixth-best odds to win the award at +1900.
The names ahead of him are CJ Carr of Notre Dame, Darian Mensah of Miami, Jeremiah Smith of Ohio State, Devon Dampier of Utah and Drew Mestemaker of Oklahoma State. Carr and Mensah are viewed by most as the current favorites, but there’s still plenty of football left to sort that out.
Russell’s performance against LSU only added to the buzz. Alabama needed the win to keep its College Football Playoff hopes alive, and the quarterback delivered in a game where the Tide took advantage of LSU’s mistakes. He finished with 206 passing yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
What’s made Russell’s rise so notable is how complete his season has been. He’s been productive through the air and dangerous as a runner, giving Alabama a true dual-threat weapon. On the year, he has thrown for 2,263 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
He’s also added 276 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.
For Russell, the focus is clearly on winning games first. But if he keeps stacking performances like the one he delivered against LSU, the Heisman chatter isn’t going away anytime soon.
In Other News...
Alabama Faces An Uncomfortable Vanderbilt Warning In Latest Week 11 Preview
A week 11 preview built around a video-game simulation is hardly a substitute for the real thing, but it can still offer a useful snapshot of how tricky Alabamas trip to Nashville could be. Roll Tide Wire ran EA Sports College Football 27 on the upcoming 2026 matchup with Vanderbilt, and the result was not the kind of runaway some Crimson Tide fans might expect. Instead, the simulation pointed to a tight, tense game at FirstBank Stadium, with Alabama edging out a 26-20 win.
What makes the forecast worth noting is the way it framed the margin for error. The simulated finish included an interception on the final play, a reminder that even a matchup Alabama is supposed to control can turn uncomfortable late if Vanderbilt hangs around. The individual performances in the game also suggested a contest that would demand attention deep into the fourth quarter, which is exactly the sort of warning that tends to linger when a road game in the SEC starts looking more competitive than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Fans Have A Real Reason To Worry About Ryan Coleman-Williams
Ryan Coleman-Williams still gives Alabama the kind of playmaking profile NFL teams covet, but his path to the draft has become a little less straightforward than it looked not long ago. The wide receiver has battled inconsistency and missed time after knee surgery, and those concerns have started to show up in how evaluators view him, even as his versatility and explosiveness remain obvious on tape.
For Alabama, the worry is not about whether Coleman-Williams can flash big-time ability, but whether he can string together enough production and durability to hold onto the kind of draft status that once seemed within reach. He has posted 25 catches for 429 yards and four touchdowns in seven games this season, solid numbers, yet not quite the steady climb that would calm NFL teams or quiet the questions surrounding his stock. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Still Has One Rival That Could Wreck Its Playoff Path
The playoff picture can look comfortable for a top-ranked team right up until the schedule turns mean, and Alabama still has one matchup that fits that description. With the College Football Playoff selection process looming over every result, the Crimson Tide can spend plenty of time looking at their own path, but there is still a game on the calendar that could complicate everything if they are not sharp.
It is the kind of late-season test that can reshape the conversation around a contender in a hurry, especially when other top teams like Georgia, Utah and UCLA are also navigating their own dangerous stretches. Alabamas margin for error remains thin, and this one opponent stands out as the most obvious threat to turning a strong season into a messy race for positioning. [Read more 🡒]