The quarterback picture is starting to come into focus across college football fall camps, and a few of the biggest jobs are still hanging in the balance.
At Alabama, the race between Keelon Russell and Austin Mack is still too close to call. College football analyst Josh Pate said the Crimson Tide trust Mack more right now, but he also noted that Russell brings the bigger ceiling.
“I think they trust Austin Mack more,” said Pate, but also acknowledged “I think Keelon Russell's ceiling is higher.” With Kalen DeBoer under pressure, Russell getting early action feels likely, though no decision has been made yet.
Florida appears to have a similarly tight fight on its hands. Returnee Trammel Jones Jr. and transfer Aaron Philo are both in the mix, and new Gator head coach Jon Sumrall still seems to be sorting through the options.
“I like what both have done,” Sumrall said after a recent Florida scrimmage. “Neither one is light years ahead of the other.”
Philo may have a slight edge because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s system from their time together at Georgia Tech.
Iowa’s competition has stayed mostly behind closed doors, but one recent scrimmage offered a glimpse. Jeremy Hecklinski looked sharp against a tough Iowa defense, throwing for 205 yards and five touchdowns in a recent open practice.
Kirk Ferentz still hasn’t closed the door on Hank Brown, who is generally viewed as the steadier option. Brown went 9 for 21 for 42 yards in that same scrimmage, and the public read is that Hecklinski’s higher upside has given him the early lead.
Tennessee may be even closer to naming a starter. The Vols need a new QB1, and signs point to true freshman Faizon Brandon having the upper hand over returnee George MacIntyre, who is seen as the more experienced and safer choice. Pete Nakos of On3 reported that Brandon hit several deep balls in a recent Tennessee scrimmage, and that could push Josh Heupel toward making a decision sooner rather than later.
Arizona State, meanwhile, has already trimmed its list. Kenny Dillingham has eliminated talented but inexperienced passers Jake Fette and Cameron Dyer, leaving the Sun Devils down to Fresno State/Michigan transfer Mikey Keene and Kentucky transfer Cutter Boley.
Both bring experience, and Boley’s edge could come from the extra scrambling work he picked up while playing behind a porous line at Kentucky last season. Even so, the battle remains unsettled for now.
In Other News...
Tennessee Showed Off A 2026 Threat Fans Have Been Waiting For
The final Tennessee football fall camp practice open to the media before the 2026 season offered another look at why the Vols have plenty of buzz heading into the year. In offense and defense sessions, quarterbacks Faizon Brandon and George MacIntyre both flashed on deep throws during wet-ball drills, while receivers Mike Matthews and Braylon Staley stood out by finishing plays through the conditions. It was the kind of practice snapshot that reminded observers how much talent is already stacking up across the roster.
There was also meaningful intrigue on the other side of the ball, where the defensive backs and other position groups drew attention as the competition continues to take shape. Freshman JJ Finch was especially notable as a potential factor on the defensive line, adding another name to a unit that could use more answers as camp winds down. For a team trying to sort out its next wave of contributors, these final open practices have been useful for showing which young players are starting to look like real options. [Read more 🡒]
Candace Parker's Hall Of Fame Moment Hit Tennessee Fans Right Away
Candace Parkers Hall of Fame weekend came with a very familiar orange-and-white touch for Tennessee fans, and it fit the moment. The former Lady Vol great was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame alongside Chamique Holdsclaw, adding another milestone to a career that already includes two national championships at Tennessee, three WNBA titles and two league MVP awards before her retirement after the 2023 season.
What made the ceremony land so quickly with Vols supporters was who stepped up to present her. NBA Hall of Famer Allen Iverson introduced Parker while wearing Tennessee apparel, a detail that connected one of the sports biggest stages right back to Knoxville. For a fan base that has long claimed Parker as one of its own, it was the kind of scene that made the induction feel personal from the start. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Growing Tight End Concern With Ethan Davis Still Out
Tennessees tight end room has become a little thinner in camp with Ethan Davis still sidelined after a minor lower-body injury from the opening fall practice. The injury was suffered on Aug. 6, and while the situation is not viewed as serious, the Vols have now gone through multiple workouts without him as they manage his return carefully.
Davis has missed nine straight practices, which matters because Tennessee does not have much proven depth behind him at the position. The cautious approach makes sense this time of year, but it also leaves the staff waiting for one of its more important pieces to get back on the field and stabilize a spot that could use the help. [Read more 🡒]