No. 3 Alabama is expected to start backup quarterback Austin Mack against Vanderbilt on Saturday, with starter Keelon Russell nursing an ankle injury but remaining available if needed.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Friday that the Crimson Tide plan to hold Russell out so he can rest the ankle.
“Alabama is expected to start Austin Mack at quarterback against Vanderbilt on Saturday. Starter Keelon Russell (ankle) is expected to be available, but the expectation is the Tide staff holds him out and lets his ankle heal. Russell has been listed as probable,” Thamel wrote on X.
Russell suffered the injury during Alabama’s 31-13 win at LSU last week. He finished that game after getting taped up and did not miss any snaps. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns while adding 25 rushing yards on eight carries.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer said earlier in the week that Russell was day-to-day.
“You’re weighing how he feels with what the medical staff says, as far as we never want to hurt him,” DeBoer said, via Touchdown Alabama’s Matthew Mason. “He’s got to go out there and obviously play at a level that can help us win. We have a lot of confidence if we had to move to Austin [Mack] at some point.”
DeBoer added that Russell’s ability to finish the LSU game was encouraging.
“He’s day-to-day. He continued and finished out the game, so that’s a good sign right there. He’s had other things that have popped up in game where he’s played through it, and you guys have seen that too when you’re paying close attention. He stays out on the football field and keeps doing his thing. For him to play at the level that he played at, getting dinged up a little bit, was impressive in itself. I’d expect him to do everything he can to get out on the football field.”
Through nine games, Russell has completed 165 of 245 passes for 2,263 yards with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions. He has also rushed for 276 yards and five touchdowns. Alabama is 7-2 overall and 5-2 in the SEC.
Mack is in his third season with the Crimson Tide after beginning his career at Washington under DeBoer in 2023. He has appeared in nine games for Alabama, completing 29 of 39 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. This season his action has been limited to four attempts, with three completions for 23 yards.
Vanderbilt enters at 4-5 overall and 1-5 in SEC play. Alabama lost its last trip to Nashville in 2024, when the Commodores featured quarterback Diego Pavia.
A win Saturday would leave Alabama with a home game against FCS Chattanooga the following week before closing the regular season at Auburn. The Crimson Tide could potentially rest Russell for both remaining games if the Vanderbilt outcome allows it, positioning him for a possible SEC championship game appearance.
Alabama opened as roughly a 19.5-point favorite earlier in the week. The line settled near 14.5 to 17.5 points as Russell’s status fluctuated. Kickoff is set for 12:45 p.m. ET on the SEC Network at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville.
The decision keeps Alabama’s College Football Playoff hopes intact while giving the sophomore quarterback extra recovery time. Russell has started every game this season and ranks among the SEC’s leading passers.
Mack will get his first start of the year against one of the conference’s struggling teams. Alabama remains one of four teams tied for second place in the SEC loss column, a game behind Georgia.
