Josh Pate sees Alabama’s trip to Mississippi State as more than just another SEC Saturday. If the weather cooperates in Starkville, he thinks the Crimson Tide and Bulldogs could give college football its best quarterback showdown of the season.
That’s where the attention is headed this weekend: Alabama’s Keelon Russell against Mississippi State’s Kamario Taylor. Both quarterbacks have opened 2026 playing at a high level, and Pate said on Thursday’s episode of Get Up that the matchup could end up standing alone among quarterback duels this year.
“I’m hoping rain stays out of… Starkville,” Pate said. “Cause if it does, you’re looking at maybe a quarterback matchup of the year.”
Russell’s start against Power 4 competition was rocky early on. In his first such outing, he had a rough first half against Kentucky in Week 2.
But since then, the Alabama quarterback has taken off. In home games against Florida State and South Carolina, he completed 77.2% of his passes, going 44-for-57 for 685 yards, seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
Pate pointed to the protection in front of him as a major reason for that surge.
“The throws are incredible. The time he has to throw is also incredible,” Pate said.
“Ty Simpson has to be watching that [tape] from a hotel room somewhere, saying ‘where was this for me… I [was] on the ground every other play.’ You give him any amount of time to throw, he’s as lethal as anyone in the country.”
Mississippi State’s pass rush has to find a way to speed Russell up. The Bulldogs have nine sacks, which is tied for 11th-most in the SEC. If they can’t get pressure, Alabama could be in control in a hurry.
Alabama and Mississippi State kick off at noon ET on Saturday on ABC.
In Other News...
Mississippi State Gets Its Biggest Jeff Lebby Test Yet Against Alabama
Mississippi State is getting the kind of stage that can say a lot about where the program is under Jeff Lebby, with No. 7 Alabama set to come to Starkville for a nationally televised game on Oct. 3, 2026. It is the sort of matchup that tends to sharpen every storyline around a coach still looking for his first signature win, especially with the Bulldogs trying to measure themselves against one of the sports standard-bearers.
Alabama enters as the favorite, according to ESPNs Football Power Index, and the buildup has already centered on how Mississippi State handles the setting as much as the opponent. Mississippi State coach Kalen DeBoer has talked about preparing for the game environment, which is part of the challenge here, because the Bulldogs will need more than just energy to make this one interesting. [Read more 🡒]
Mississippi State Fans Have A New SEC Quarterback Debate To Watch
Josh Pates latest SEC quarterback rankings gave Mississippi State fans a fresh talking point this week, and it starts at the top of the list with a familiar name in the state. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss stayed No. 1 in Pates updated order on September 29, even after the Rebels recent loss, thanks to a strong early stretch that has him among the leagues most productive passers.
For Mississippi State, the more interesting part is what comes next. Kamario Taylor checked in at No. 2, ahead of Alabamas Keelon Russell, giving Bulldogs fans a reason to measure their own quarterback outlook against the rest of the conference and to wonder how long Taylor can keep climbing if he keeps producing. [Read more 🡒]
Keelon Russell Is Giving Alabama Fans A New Reason To Dream
First-year quarterbacks are already reshaping the conversation around the SEC, and the early returns have given fans in Tuscaloosa and beyond plenty to follow. Keelon Russell, a five-star recruit ranked No. 2 in the 2025 class, has settled in quickly, and his production has stood out enough to put him at the top of the conference in passer grading, according to Pro Football Focus.
Kamario Taylor has been making his own case on another side of the league, with the four-star prospect ranked No. 80 in the 2025 class flashing the kind of efficiency that gets attention fast. He sits 11th nationally in EPA per play among qualifying quarterbacks, which makes the next stretch of the season worth watching closely as both newcomers keep trying to prove their strong starts are more than just an opening-week storyline. [Read more 🡒]