Where Alabama football’s quarterback battle is trending towards

Alabama football’s quarterback competition is still ongoing less than three weeks before the Crimson Tide kicks off the season against East Carolina on Sept. 5.

Kalen DeBoer told reporters he was not ready to name a starting quarterback after the Tide’s first scrimmage of fall camp on Thursday. If DeBoer and his staff still feel this way this week, it becomes more likely that the Crimson Tide’s quarterback battle will continue into the season, meaning Alabama would play both quarterbacks in its first few games.

DeBoer detailed how each quarterback looked after the first scrimmage of fall camp while talking to reporters on Thursday.

“As the scrimmage went on, they both got better,” DeBoer said. “Both had their moments early where they could of executed better. They could have used some help from some guys once and a while. They’re not going to be perfect all the time. Operationally, I just think again it’s them running the show but everyone doing their part. The slow start wasn’t really about one player or one position group, but both of them as the scrimmage went along got in their rhythm, and so, the challenge to them will be just starting faster every single time we have their game-like scrimmages and practices, coming out and setting the tone themselves.”

Touchdown Alabama was told by viewers in attendance of the scrimmage that Austin Mack started the scrimmage running with the Tide’s first-team offense. TDA was also told it was a slow start, like DeBoer said it was. Mack was praised for his leadership in these moments when he was able to calm down his teammates and eventually gain some rhythm.

As expected, it was hard for those in attendance to look over Keelon Russell’s upside and potential. One viewer said Russell brought out a different spark to the Crimson Tide’s offense. Both quarterbacks had success during the scrimmage.

Alabama named Ty Simpson its starting quarterback 20 days before its first game of the 2025 season.

Sunday makes it 20 days until the Tide opens the season against East Carolina. This week will likely tell a lot about where the Tide’s quarterback battle stands.