Kalen DeBoer has reached the kind of crossroads that comes with life at Alabama. The job was supposed to be about keeping the machine humming after Nick Saban, but two seasons in, the Crimson Tide are still looking for the kind of steady edge that used to define the program.
That is why DeBoer’s decision to name former five-star quarterback Keelon Russell the starter carries so much weight. With two weeks left before Alabama opens the season, the keys to Tuscaloosa are in Russell’s hands now.
DeBoer arrived in Alabama after the 2023 season at Washington made him one of the hottest names in the sport. The Huskies fell short of the national title against Michigan, but just getting there put DeBoer on every major program’s radar once Saban stepped away from college football.
Alabama moved fast. Since then, though, the comparison to Saban has only made DeBoer’s job tougher.
The results have been uneven. Alabama has lost four games in each of DeBoer’s first two seasons, and this past year the Crimson Tide reached the College Football Playoff before getting trounced by Indiana in Round 2. For a fan base used to championships and title contention, that’s not close to enough.
Quarterback is now the biggest pressure point. For the first time since 2016, the year after Jake Coker’s final season with the Tide, Alabama enters a season with real questions under center.
That doesn’t mean Russell can’t answer them. Jalen Hurts stepped in in 2016 and got the job done, so the position has been a launching pad before.
But this isn’t the Saban version of Alabama, and that matters. Under Saban, fans could trust the quarterback situation because the rest of the operation was so stable: a powerful running game and a defense that could control games. DeBoer’s teams have not been built that way.
The numbers tell the story. Alabama ranked 125th in rushing offense in 2025, 47th in 2024, and Washington finished 100th in rushing in 2023. That leaves DeBoer leaning heavily on the passing game, which puts even more on Russell’s shoulders.
Austin Mack was also in the mix, and he’s a quarterback DeBoer knows well. Still, Russell won the job outright, and the staff clearly believes his talent gives Alabama the best chance to move the offense.
He has attempted only 15 passes in two seasons of college football, but those throws have produced 143 yards and two touchdowns. He also brings athleticism and the ability to extend plays with his legs, which matters in DeBoer’s system.
The timing makes the decision even bigger. Alabama’s schedule includes a brutal four-game run against Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M, and LSU. If the Crimson Tide want to stay in the SEC title race and reach the College Football Playoff, they likely need to split that stretch and avoid slipping anywhere else.
If that doesn’t happen, the pressure on DeBoer will only intensify. Naming Russell the starter isn’t just a quarterback move. It’s the move that could define DeBoer’s future in Tuscaloosa.
In Other News...
Washingtons New-Look Roster Faces Its First Real Test Before The Opener
Before the 2026 season opener against Washington State, the Huskies will get one more live look at themselves in a mock game at Husky Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 6. Fans are invited to watch, and the setting should offer an early read on how a roster with plenty of young and new faces is coming together as the preseason reaches its final stretch.
The exercise is expected to shine a light on the position battles that have been developing behind the scenes, from the offensive line to the defense and receiver group. It will also give the staff a chance to assess player development in real time, with coverage planned throughout the day, including live updates, a postgame story, a podcast and interviews. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Just Lost Two Key Veterans At The Worst Time
A late legal turn has put Washington in a tough spot as camp approaches, with the program suddenly dealing with more uncertainty around veteran depth than it expected. The issue traces back to a previous injunction that had opened the door for certain NCAA football players from the recruiting Class of 2022 to gain a fifth year of eligibility, a ruling that looked like it could help several teams navigate roster building and experience at once.
Now the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed that injunction, and the Huskies are feeling the effect immediately. Players who filed suit in state courts can still move forward, but others are in limbo, including defensive tackle Ta'ita'i Uiagalelei and kicker Grady Gross, who are not permitted to practice with Washington while the case works through the system. With the season drawing close, there is not much time left for that picture to change. [Read more 🡒]
Washington Mock Game Put Real Pressure On A Key Huskies Battle
Husky Stadium got a real dress rehearsal Saturday, with Washington putting nearly 90 plays on the field in a public scrimmage that mixed live looks with situational work. It was the kind of afternoon that lets a staff see where the roster is before the games start carrying more weight, and Demond Williams made his case with a sharp showing in the passing game while the defense had its own moments, including Ksani Jiles taking an interception back 40 yards.
For a team getting ready to face Washington State, the bigger takeaway may be how close the Huskies are to having the full group available again. Jedd Fisch said the previously held-out players will be ready to go starting Sunday, which gives Washington a cleaner picture as it turns from scrimmage tempo to game-week prep. With rivalry week ahead, the remaining questions are less about effort than about which battles on the depth chart are going to matter most when the real lineup gets set. [Read more 🡒]