Alabama Expected to Start Austin Mack at Vanderbilt as Russell Nurses Ankle
No. 3 Alabama is expected to start Austin Mack at quarterback against Vanderbilt on Saturday, with Keelon Russell nursing an ankle injury. Russell, who has started every game, is expected to be available off the bench but held out so the ankle can heal, sources said.
No. 3 Alabama is expected to start quarterback Austin Mack at Vanderbilt on Saturday while Keelon Russell deals with the lingering effects of an ankle injury, sources said. Russell has started every game this season.
Russell is expected to be available off the bench, sources said. The expectation, however, is that he will be held out so the injury can heal.
He hurt the ankle in the second half of last week's win at LSU. He got it wrapped and played through the pain. Alabama won that game 31-13.
Russell's season
The sophomore from Texas has been one of the most impactful quarterbacks in the country. Through nine games he has completed 67.3% of his passes for 2,263 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions.
He is a threat with his legs, too. Russell has carried the ball 74 times for 276 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 30.7 yards per game.
His 86.5 QBR is second only to Miami's Darian Mensah. Russell beat out Mack for the starting job late in preseason camp.
Who is Austin Mack
Mack is a fourth-year player who followed coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington in 2025. He has appeared in four games this season. He has completed 3 of 4 passes for 23 yards.
Earlier in the week, DeBoer said Russell was day-to-day. The coach said the staff would have confidence if it "needed to move to Austin [Mack] at some point." DeBoer also said Russell would do "everything he can" to play against Vanderbilt.
On Wednesday, the SEC released its first injury reports for the weekend's games. Alabama listed Russell as probable. Running back EJ Crowell, offensive lineman William Sanders and defensive backs Zabien Brown and Chuck McDonald III were also listed as probable.
What is at stake
Alabama climbed to No. 3 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday. The Crimson Tide control their own destiny with three regular-season games left, and they enter each as favorites.
After Vanderbilt, Alabama plays Chattanooga, then closes the regular season with the Iron Bowl against Auburn.
In the SEC race, the Crimson Tide sit behind Tennessee and Georgia, and they have lost to both this season. To reach the conference championship game, Alabama would need at least one of those teams to lose one of its final three games.
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