Alabama QB battle: College GameDay unpacks fascinating element to decision

Jalen Milroe is now in the NFL after the Seattle Seahawks selected Alabama‘s dynamic dual-threat quarterback in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft in April. Milroe’s decision to move on officially opened the door for the Crimson Tide’s first quarterback competition since Kalen DeBoer replaced retired Nick Saban as head football coach 18 months ago.

So far this offseason, redshirt junior Ty Simpson — Milroe’s backup the past two seasons — has gotten the nod from Tide coaches, including DeBoer repeatedly making it clear he’d be the starter coming out of Spring practice. Of course, redshirt sophomore Austin Mack and true freshman Keelon Russell continue to impress, and both will be afforded every opportunity to dethrone Simpson over the next month in Fall camp ahead of the Aug. 30 season-opener at Florida State.

But before the quarterback battle resumes in Tuscaloosa, ESPN’s College GameDay host Rece Davis and insider Pete Thamel evaluated Alabama’s QB competition during a recent episode of the College GameDay podcast. Davis — an Alabama alumnus — believes Simpson will ultimately start the opener against FSU just based on seniority, but suggested the most compelling part of the Tide’s QB battle is it could roll over well into the regular season, especially if Simpson struggles.

“The real question there is not so much who’s going to win the race, but the question is how long is the leash? If there needs to be one,” Davis said on the College GameDay podcast. “[…] Once you name the starter, how long is he the starter? And how much are you playing the other guy? Are you committed to playing the other guy in more than a specific situation? … I keep going back to that year with (former Ohio State QBs) Kyle McCord and Devin Brown as a recent quarterback race with a really good team involved. I think that’s the most fascinating question (for Alabama): Does Simpson seize the job to the degree that he’s the guy no matter what? Or, he’s earned the right, but he’s got to hold onto it. … How long is the leash?”

Pete Thamel: Keelon Russell ‘is dynamic, he is electric’ but ‘probably not ready, yet’

The next question is obviously who would replace Simpson if he is ultimately benched: the 6-foot-6, 235-pound Mack or electric rookie Russell. Thamel provided some insight into Russell, the Five-Star Plus quarterback ranked the No. 2 overall recruit in the 2025 signing class just behind Michigan’s Bryce Underwood, per Rivals Industry Rankings.

“The Alabama race is interesting because Keelon Russell is supremely talented. Remember, he was committed to SMU and just kept rising, rising and rising when Bama swooped in and got him. That as really one of the first recruiting power plays of the Kalen DeBoer era,” Thamel said. “(Russell) is dynamic, he is electric. And probably not ready, yet, but that’s not to say he won’t be ready eventually (at some point) this season. That’ll be fascinating. … I’m really bullish on Alabama’s weapons, by the way. Germie Bernard has been a hyper-productive, dynamic college player, probably doesn’t get enough attention if we’re being honest. And obviously Ryan Williams, he’s 18 now.”

Jokes aside, it’s clear the Crimson Tide have the offensive playmakers to win double-digit games this season, especially with the right man at quarterback. Whether that man is Simpson or someone else is yet to be seen, but one thing is clear to the GameDay crew: Alabama’s QB1 battle won’t be settled until firmly Simpson cements his status as “the guy.”

“I’m pretty high on Austin Mack too,” Davis added. “Now I haven’t seen enough of him to be completely sold, but I remember watching him throw at Washington and he got a smattering of action last year in some of the blowout games. I mean, he looks the part too now.”

Of course, looking the part and playing the part are two different things. But until one Alabama quarterback proves he’s “the guy” in Tuscaloosa in much the same way Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa did before them, the Tide QB1 competition won’t be settled any time soon.

Because, as Thamel said in closing: “Kalen DeBoer doesn’t miss on a lot of quarterbacks.”