One of college football’s giants broke major news on Saturday, August 22, as Alabama’s quarterback battle is officially over, with Keelon Russell being named as the starting QB over Austin Mack.
The Crimson Tide’s 2026 season just became significantly more clear, with Russell providing top-tier talent as a former 5-star recruit on 247 Sports. But who is Russell, and what does the announcement mean for Alabama and college football predictions on PrizePicks?
Below, we’ll dive into everything you need to know about Alabama’s 2026 starting quarterback and how Russell shifts the upcoming college football season that kicks off with Week 0 on Saturday, August 29.
Make CFB predictions for the 2026 season on PrizePicks!
{{cfb_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Keelon Russell Announced as Alabama Starting QB, Austin Mack Falls Short
Entering the offseason, it was widely expected Keelon Russell would be the heir apparent to QB Ty Simpson—who was drafted with the 13th overall pick by the Rams in the 2026 NFL Draft. However, Austin Mack, who transferred from Washington in 2024, was also in serious contention for the role.
Mack also competed alongside Russell for the starting job last year, though that ultimately fell to Simpson. With that said, the UW transfer has only one more year of eligibility following the 2026 season, and he could be stuck behind Russell going forward, as the newly announced starter is a true sophomore with two years remaining before he can enter his name in the NFL draft.
Russell has been head coach Kalen DeBoer’s greatest recruiting win since he took over as Alabama football’s head coach in 2024. Russell finished as the second-best player available in the 2025 class, behind Michigan QB Bryce Underwood, via 247 Sports’ Composite Rankings.
NFL Mock Draft Database has an early glimpse for the 2028 NFL Draft, ranking Russell as the ninth-best player and third-best QB in the class.
Keep in mind Ohio State QB Tavien St. Clair is currently above Russell in those rankings, and he will likely take few snaps behind QB Julian Sayin during the 2026 season. Russell could be easily regarded as a better prospect, with Underwood potentially looming as the crown jewel of 2028.
That gives an idea of how special Russell could become, leading to an Alabama fanbase that may begin to chirp over the coming weeks. Here’s what it may mean for the 2026 college football season and, more specifically, how it could alter the Crimson Tide’s ceiling.
How Keelon Russell News Impacts Alabama Football & College Football
Before Russell arrived to Tuscaloosa in the 2025 season, Andrew Ivins of 247 Sports provided a scouting report of the 5-star recruit.
Ivins made a direct comparison to Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, who won the 2023 Heisman Trophy with LSU. He highlighted Russell’s “elite” playmaking, paired with exceptional mobility, arm talent, and a lightning-fast release.
Adding to Russell’s case to hit the ground running, he played his high school football in Duncanville, Texas. If you’re unfamiliar with the high school scene, Duncanville participates in Texas’ Class 6A Division I—one of the nation’s most competitive and talented levels of high school football.
Duncanville has produced NFL-level talent, including RB Barry Foster, CB Ray Crockett, and RB Ricky Williams. Perhaps Russell is next in line, and coming from this level of competition may aid his chance to make an immediate impact.
Alabama’s talented crop of wide receivers further helps Russell, as he will throw to the likes of Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, and Derek Meadows. Coleman-Williams is currently 25th in NFL Mock Draft Database’s 2027 rankings.
Simpson thrived with similar weapons in DeBoer’s system a season ago, totaling 3,567 passing yards, 28 passing TDs, and only 5 INTs. DeBoer is no stranger to orchestrating a strong offense, but Russell’s talent could truly take his system to the next level.
Today’s news of Russell being named Alabama’s starting quarterback should be positive for those who are backing the Tide in 2026. You can take your pick at PrizePicks Team Picks, where Alabama has the third-shortest payout to win the SEC Championship (7.69x) and a 2.32x payout to qualify for the College Football Playoff.
On PrizePicks Team Picks, a 2x payout represents a return of $200 on a $100 entry (or $20 on $10). A lower payout multiplier signals a higher implied probability of that result based on user picks.
Lock in your CFB predictions on PrizePicks—featuring conference winners, awards, playoff qualifiers, and more!
{{cfb_offer_banner="/style-system/ui-components-playbook"}}
Make College Football Predictions on PrizePicks
The elite 2025 quarterback class is slowly being unveiled to the college football world, and Keelon Russell is the next player who will be on show as Alabama’s starting quarterback. He joins Michigan QB Bryce Underwood as one of the nation’s most talented signal-callers, while Ohio State QB Tavien St. Clair awaits his turn behind QB Julian Sayin.
Alabama adding an NFL-level talent to its offense could be just what the doctor ordered. Will Russell push the Crimson Tide to greater heights?
The college football season has nearly arrived, with Week 0 kicking off on Saturday, August 29, and users can make CFB predictions for the upcoming 2026 season, such as the national championship winner, College Football Playoff qualifiers, and win totals, on PrizePicks Team Picks—available in 36 states!
Stay locked in on Playbook for daily college football news as the 2026 regular season approaches.
Team Picks and Culture Picks are event contracts offered by Performance Predictions II, LLC d/b/a PrizePicks Predict, a CFTC-registered FCM and NFA Member. All event contract customers must be U.S. residents and 18+. Some event contracts may not be available in every state.Event contract trading carries significant risk and is not appropriate for everyone. No guarantee against loss is offered. Past results are not necessarily indicative of future results.Void where prohibited by law. Restrictions apply. For full terms of service see prizepicks.com/predict-regulatory. Team and Culture Pick Early Payouts subject to market liquidity. The content provided is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice, or a recommendation to trade any commodity interest.
