With less than two months until the 2026 season opener, Alabama football coach Kalen DeBoer isn’t rushing his decision at quarterback.
At the 2026 SEC Football Kickoff, DeBoer joined the SEC Network broadcast and was asked how long he thought Austin Mack and Keelon Russell may continue to battle to be named the starter, and whether the tug-of-war could play out until Week 1 against East Carolina.
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“I would prefer it not to,” DeBoer chuckled. “I know what the timeline is.”
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“You kind of have your first scrimmage, your second scrimmage, you make a decision soon after that. That’s been typical,” DeBoer said.
Ideally, DeBoer will see his quarterbacks go in “12 or 13” competitions.
Mack, who followed DeBoer from Washington, is the elder of the two and threw 24 passes for 228 yards and two touchdowns in 2025. Third in the depth chart behind Mack and outgoing starter Ty Simpson was Russell, who went 11-for-15 for 143 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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“Even last year, that was kind of the thought process. We decided probably four or five days earlier than that last year, so we’ll see how it plays out. We’ll evaluate,” DeBoer continued.
DeBoer noted that it will be a “hard decision,” though.
“These guys are going at it pretty hard,” DeBoer said.
Alabama and ECU go head-to-head on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 11 a.m. CT.
Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Kalen DeBoer gives timeline to name starting QB for Alabama football 2026 season
