Alabama Receives Bold CFP Prediction Amid QB Controversy

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The Alabama Crimson Tide were a controversial addition to the College Football Playoff field last season, but they ended up beating Oklahoma before getting absolutely routed by Indiana (who didn't get crushed by the Hoosiers last year?) in the Rose Bowl.

Based on Alabama's resume, it clearly deserved to be in the CFP, particularly after the work it did in the SEC throughout the regular season.

But can Kalen DeBoer punch his second straight trip to the playoff in 2026?

The Crimson Tide have to get their quarterback situation sorted out first, as they genuinely don't know who will be under center come their season opener against East Carolina.

Redshirt freshman Keelon Russell and redshirt junior Austin Mack are battling it out for the starting job, and we'll see who emerges the victor in fall camp.

ESPN's Dari Nowkhah seems to believe it will be Russell, and he also pitched a rather bold prediction for both Russell and Alabama on the That SEC Podcast.

"Keelon Russell will start and be one of the three best QBs in the SEC by the time the season ends," Nowkhah said. "Which means he will not lead Kalen to four losses, which will mean they'll be in conversation for a spot in Atlanta and a playoff."

Nowkhah is far from the only prognosticator who feels that Russell will be under center. Former Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban recently raved about the former five-star recruit and made it very clear that he should be the choice at quarterback.

The question is whether or not DeBoer will snub Mack, who has been with him since his final season at Washington back in 2024.

Mack is also a former five-star recruit who is certainly unique in the fact that he stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 235 pounds. He is more of a traditional quarterback who possesses tremendous arm strength and is absolutely an enticing option.

Russell is a dangerous dual threat with immense talent in his own right and obviously has more of a runway given that this will only be his second season with the program (and he redshirted in Year 1).

In any case, we'll see who DeBoer chooses as his signal-caller and whether or not 'Bama can make another CFP run.

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