Former Alabama QB says Tide’s quarterback battle is a non-issue

photo via Alabama Athletics

The Alabama Crimson Tide will enter the 2026 season with a plethora of young talent on both sides of the football. 

Alabama lost a multitude of veteran players to both the transfer portal and NFL Draft over the course of the offseason. The Tide will also find themselves with a new face at the quarterback position, as Keelon Russell and Austin Mack are expected to continue battling for the starting role during fall camp. 

Former Alabama quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy recently shared his thoughts on the Tide’s ongoing quarterback battle, as McElroy believes either Russell or Mack could prove to be an excellent starting option in 2026.

“Everybody wants to talk about the quarterback spot,” McElroy said. “And frankly, I understand that’s the position that gets all the credit and all the blame. But in reality, whoever they go with quarterback, whether it’s Austin Mack or Keelon Russell, they’re going to be just fine. Those two guys are both super talented and the passing attack was not at all a problem last year. So my focus when evaluating Alabama has been on how do you get the run game going on? They averaged less than 3.5 yards a carry last year. They were 125th in the country when it comes to rushing the football. That’s a problem. That’s a reflection not just on the running backs, But also on the offensive line, they have got to be able to better establish the run. They got to be more consistent along the line of scrimmage because whoever the quarterback is, you cannot expect him to shoulder the load the way Ty Simpson shouldered the load last year. You have to create balance offensively, and by running the ball, you can also limit the time of possession from the opponent, which would put less pressure on the defense as well. So running the football, definitely the number one priority for the Tide.”

Both Russell and Mack were able to flash their potential on a handful of occasions in 2025. Either quarterback would prove to be an extremely talented and promising starting option, but Alabama’s run game may emerge as the true X-factor on offense nonetheless.