Tony’s take: Can Alabama break the trend of experienced title-winning QBs?

Aug. 19, 2025, Tuscaloosa, AL; Quarterbacks Keelon Russell and Austin Mack throw during practice for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Kalen DeBoer will have to break a recent trend in college football if he’s going to bring Alabama back to the promised land next season. 

I’m not talking about NIL and Alabama’s unwillingness/inability to chase the top-end talents in the transfer portal. Indiana just proved that a team within the Tide’s spending bracket can run through financial juggernauts such as Ohio State, Oregon and Miami. 

DeBoer would surely welcome some extra funds, especially with his coaching seat slowly beginning to warm up heading into his third season at Alabama. However, missing out on the likes of Jordan Seaton or Hollywood Smothers shouldn’t be his biggest concern at the moment. 

Despite sitting lower than usual in the recent way-too-early rankings, Alabama should have a competitive roster next season. The Tide will have one of the best secondaries in the nation and returns an emerging pass rusher in Yhonzae Pierre, who tallied eight sacks last season. 

While the offensive line still needs to be pieced together, Alabama’s front five will likely include a pair of five-star talents in Michael Carroll and Ty Haywood. 

When it comes to playmakers, the Tide has those, too. A four-receiver set of Ryan Williams, Lotzier Brooks, Noah Rogers and Cederian Morgan provides a dangerous mixture of speed and size. Meanwhile, the backfield should be more explosive with the emergence of sophomore AK Dear and the addition of five-star freshman Ezavier Crowell. 

Alabama’s biggest question mark — and likely the reason the Tide sits so low in some of these preseason rankings — is at the quarterback position. No knock on Austin Mack or Keelon Russell, but recent history suggests they won’t be hoisting the national championship trophy for Alabama at this time next year. 

It has nothing to do with their talent, though.