Nick Saban Reveals 'Imperative' Upgrade Alabama Needs After QB Decision
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The Alabama Crimson Tide has named Keelon Russell their starting quarterback for 2026, but there is another position that needs to step up, according to former coach Nick Saban.
Alabama’s quarterback battle was between sophomore Keelon Russell and senior Austin Mack. According to The Athletic’s Antonio Morales, Russell has won the job and will start for the Crimson Tide.
Russell, a five-star prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, was considered the quarterback with the higher ceiling, while Mack had the higher floor. Ultimately, Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide opted to go with Russell as their starting quarterback, but Saban believes the key to his success is an offensive line better than last season.
“It’s going to be imperative, though, that the offensive line play better so that the quarterback, whoever it is, has an opportunity to play better,” Saban said on The Pat McAfee Show on Friday, before it was announced that Russell won the starting job. “I thought Ty Simpson was under a hell of a lot of pressure the second half of the season all the time. The ability to run the ball and stay in favorable down and distance is going to have something to do with that as well.”
Russell has the ability to extend plays with his legs if the pocket collapses, which should help him.
More College Football:
- Nick Saban Gives Candid Advice to Alabama Crimson Defense
- Bill Belichick Just Bet His Tar Heels Job on a Journeyman QB
- Volunteers Have Easy QB Decision Despite MacIntyre, Brandon Battle
- Former Volunteers Coach Sends Warning to Team – And He’s Right
- Analyst Hands Miami Hurricanes QB A Surprising Prediction Ahead Of Season
Saban was also impressed with Russell’s playmaking ability from the footage he has seen.
“I have watched some of the tape and I have been very impressed with both guys. They’re different. Keelon is more of a playmaker because of his legs, but that’s up to coach. I don’t know where his decision making and development is relative to the staff. The other guy, Mack, has a little more experience. I don’t know exactly where they’re at with that.”
Saban called Russell more athletic and a good passer, while his legs make him dangerous.
Kalen DeBoer Felt Confident With Both QBs
Although Alabama had a lengthy quarterback battle, Russell ultimately won the job.
Before the Crimson Tide announced Russell as the starter, DeBoer was confident that both quarterbacks could help Alabama win football games this season.
“We can go win with either one of them, and I feel very comfortable with that,” DeBoer said. “Obviously, we got to pick one, and we will. We will pick one, and, you know, we’ll continue to work through that here in the days ahead.”
Alabama quarterbacks coach Bryan Ellis, meanwhile, gave a clear answer as to why Russell won the job.
“Keelon is gonna be the starting quarterback here because he’s a playmaker,” Ellis told Yea Alabama. “He’s the guy that we know when the ball is in his hands, a lot of good s*** can happen… As coaches and as his coach, we have to limit the bad stuff and the ‘young-player plays’, but when the ball is in his hands, we have the ability to be an extremely explosive offense, and that’s fun to see.”
Russell does raise Alabama’s ceiling, but if he struggles, the Crimson Tide can turn to Mack as a backup option.
Alabama opens its 2026 college football season on Sept. 5 against East Carolina. The Crimson Tide has notable games against Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, LSU, and Texas A&M, among others, making it a tough schedule.
Related: Analyst Has Blunt Take on Why Nick Saban Retired as Alabama HC
This story was originally published by Lindys Sports on Aug 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the College Football section. Add Lindys Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos