Ranking the projected starting quarterbacks on Alabama's 2026 schedule

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Over the course of the 2026 season, Alabama football will face a number of very talented quarterbacks.

A list featuring some names who have faced Alabama before, the Crimson Tide will play nine SEC quarterbacks this upcoming fall, as well as three from the nonconference. Of those 12 total, four have started games against Alabama in previous years, each of which have been challenging tests for the Crimson Tide's defense.

Looking ahead to the Crimson Tide's 2026 schedule, Alabama will not have to face both quarterbacks who defeated them a year ago during the regular season, but will meet the signal caller whom they fell to in the SEC Championship Game.

Also among the quarterbacks the Crimson Tide will face in 2026 are some of the top transfer portal names from this past cycle, as well as a few breakout candidates within the SEC.

Following are the 12 projected starting quarterbacks that Alabama will face during the 2026 season ranked, starting with No. 12.

12. Battle Alberson, Chattanooga Mocs

The lone FCS opponent on Alabama's schedule, Alberson returns for the Mocs in 2026 after appearing in six games a year ago, and will compete for the starting job with New Mexico State transfer Parker Awad. Alberson, a redshirt sophomore, completed 59.5% of passes for 630 yards and a 5:3 TD:INT ratio last season, while also rushing for 63 yards.

11. Mitch Griffis, East Carolina Pirates

Alabama will likely open the 2026 season against Griffis, who is likely competing for the starting job at East Carolina alongside Miami transfer Emory Williams. A redshirt senior, Griffis transfers from Texas Tech where he appeared in seven games a year ago, completing 72.2% of passes for 357 yards and three total touchdowns, one of which was rushing.

10. Ashton Daniels, Florida State Seminoles

Daniels is the first-of-many quarterbacks Alabama will face again during the 2026 season, with the redshirt senior having transferred during the offseason from Auburn. The Seminoles' projected starter completed 57.1% of passes for 797 yards and a 3:2 TD:INT ratio last season, while also rushing for 280 yards and two scores over four games.

9. George MacIntyre, Tennessee Volunteers

Out of Alabama's entire 2026 schedule, Tennessee might have the most undecided quarterback battle entering the summer, as it could be a legit toss up between George MacIntyre and Faizon Brandon, as well as Colorado transfer Ryan Staub. MacIntyre appeared in two games at Tennessee a year ago, completing 77.8% of passes for 69 yards.

8. Jared Curtis, Vanderbilt Commodores

Curtis is likely the lone true freshman starting quarterback that Alabama will face during the 2026 season. The true freshman is projected to start from day one at Vanderbilt, and is one of the highest-rated recruits to ever commit to the Commodores.

7. Kenny Minchey, Kentucky Wildcats

Minchey is likely the first quarterback Alabama will see in SEC action, with the junior having transferred from Notre Dame to Kentucky during the offseason. Last season, Minchey completed 76.9% of passes for 196 yards across his six games at Notre Dame, while also rushing for 84 yards and a touchdown.

6. Kamario Taylor, Mississippi State Bulldogs

Taylor emerged late last season for Mississippi State as a true freshman, and appears set to breakout fully in 2026. The projected Mississippi State starter completed 55.8% of passes for 629 yards and a 5:1 TD:INT ratio across his 11 games, while also rushing for 458 yards and eight touchdowns.

5. Marcel Reed, Texas A&M Aggies

Reed returns as the starting quarterback for a Texas A&M team that will be among the best traveling to Tuscaloosa this upcoming season. Across 13 games last season, Reed completed 62.1% of passes for 3,169 yards and a 25:12 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 493 yards and six more scores.

4. Byrum Brown, Auburn Tigers

Alabama will face a different starting quarterback in the Iron Bowl this season in Brown, who transferred to Auburn from South Florida. A quarterback Alabama faced twice with the Bulls, Brown completed 66.3% of passes for 3,158 yards and a 28:7 TD:INT ratio over 12 games last season, also rushing for 1,008 yards and 14 more scores.

3. LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina Gamecocks

Another quarterback the Crimson Tide have defeated twice before, Sellers will be back as South Carolina's starter in 2026. Sellers completed 60.8% of passes for 2,437 yards and a 13:8 TD:INT ratio across 12 games last season, with the Gamecocks' starter also rushing for 270 yards and five touchdowns.

2. Sam Leavitt, LSU Tigers

After transferring to LSU from Arizona State over the offseason, Leavitt is likely the most talented quarterback that Alabama will face outside of Tuscaloosa this upcoming season. The projected starter in Lane Kiffin's first season at LSU, Leavitt saw action in seven games a year ago at Arizona State where the redshirt junior competed 60.7% of passes for 1,628 yards and a 10:3 TD:INT ratio, while also rushing for 306 yards and five scores.

1. Gunner Stockton, Georgia Bulldogs

Stockton returns as Georgia's starting quarterback after finishing seventh in voting for the Heisman Trophy during the 2025 season. The redshirt senior completed 69.7% of passes for 2,894 yards and a 24:5 TD:INT ratio over 14 games a year ago, rushing for 462 yards and 10 touchdowns as well.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Ranking the projected quarterbacks on Alabama football 2026 schedule

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