Keelon Russell leads Alabama to season-opening win over East Carolina

Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell led the Crimson Tide to a 48-10 victory over the East Carolina Pirates in their 2026 season opener at Bryant-Denny Stadium. In his highly anticipated first career start, Russell recorded 342 total yards, completing 18-of-30 passes for 256 yards and adding 86 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Russell’s performance marked the highest total yardage by an Alabama quarterback in a debut since Bryce Young in 2021. The offense utilized multiple run-pass option (RPO) plays, leveraging Russell’s dual-threat capabilities to move the ball effectively. Following the game, Russell noted the importance of learning to protect himself from unnecessary hits while running.