STARKVILLE, MISSISSIPPI – Keelon Russell of the Alabama Crimson Tide after a game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium on October 3, 2026 in Starkville, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
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Kalen DeBoer was asked during his weekly presser what makes him feel that his quarterback is ready to face Georgia. The third-year Alabama coach replied in part that Keelon Russell “…continues to stay calm, cool and consistent.”
Those are commendable traits for a redshirt freshman with all of seven entries on his career game log, including five starts this season. Indeed, there is much hype heading into Saturday evening’s heavyweight matchup in Tuscaloosa, which is where ESPN’s Game Day crew will establish residence depending on Mother Nature’s mood with tropical storm Isaias barreling up the Gulf.
Both teams are 5-0 with Georgia checking in at No. 2 and ‘Bama No. 6. In other words, the noise will only increase leading up to kickoff. Alas, DeBoer noted that it is such an atmosphere that players coming to Alabama sign up for. Russell has certainly done his part so far and was lauded by his coach for his ability to prepare for whatever challenges await.
“He’s on top of every little detail of the gameplan and that’s what it takes in games like this where those details matter,” said DeBoer, who will run out of the tunnel and onto Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium where his teams are 16-1, including 8-1 in conference play. “You have to execute in the critical moments, and I think he is prepared for that.”
Russell and the Crimson Tide offense will face a Georgia team that held three SEC opponents – Arkansas, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt — to a combined 44 points while winning each game by at least 24. The Bulldogs’ defense, under coordinator and former Alabama assistant, Glenn Schumann, has recorded 13 sacks, intercepted eight passes, and scored a pair of touchdowns in five games. So, yes, there will be many details for Russell to process, including perhaps the weather and field conditions.
“This week will be their greatest test by far,” DeBoer said of the offense, which is churning out 474 yards per game and has crossed the goal line 28 times to tie with several other teams for second in the nation. (The Tide is averaging 49.6 points per game, which is also good for second nationally behind, you guessed it, UGA at 51.4.)
Russell, who mopped up in a pair of games last season to maintain a redshirt while playing behind Ty Simpson, won the preseason competition with Austin Mack to be the Tide’s starting QB. The 19-year-old – Russell does not turn 20 until April – has not looked back while posting a set of impressive numbers that include completing 71.2 percent of his passes (second in the SEC to Gunner Stockton), ranking sixth nationally in both pass efficiency rating and total offense per game (320 yards) while totaling 15 touchdowns.
Though it took some time to warm up in Lexington on September 12, Russell passed his first SEC exam as a starting quarterback. The native Texan threw a pick-six on the Crimson Tide’s initial possession, fumbled the ball away on the second possession and was intercepted with less than a minute remaining in the half to put Kentucky in position to kick a field goal as time expired.
Alabama trailed Kentucky at the half, 17-13, before dominating in all three phases over the final 30 minutes in a 45-17 victory.
Lessons learned? Well, Russell has since completed 76 percent of his passes (60-for-79) with 10 touchdowns and nary a pick in games against Florida State, South Carolina and Mississippi State. The man who be patrolling the visiting sideline has certainly noticed.
“The quarterback is playing amazing for them,” said Georgia coach, Kirby Smart. “The guy is really talented, fun to watch. You’ve seen the growth from the first game all the way through.”
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