WAKE UP BAMA - An Alabama Football Podcast with Kyle Henderson

MAJOR UPDATE: Ezavier Crowell status for East Carolina revealed

Game Week is officially here, and Kyle Henderson has changed his 2026 Alabama football season prediction.

After entering fall camp with Alabama projected to finish 10–2, what we learned throughout August has changed the outlook. Kyle now predicts the Crimson Tide to finish 11–1 and return to the College Football Playoff.

On Monday's Wake Up Bama, we go game-by-game through Alabama's 2026 schedule and explain why confidence has increased entering the season. Keelon Russell winning the quarterback job, Ryan Grubb's offense, an experienced and potentially elite Kane Wommack defense, improvement along the offensive line and encouraging developments on special teams have all raised Alabama's ceiling.

Plus, we dive into the latest Alabama football news entering the season opener against East Carolina, including:

🐘 Final 2026 Alabama season prediction
🏆 Why Alabama can finish 11–1 and make the College Football Playoff
🔥 What changed during fall camp
🏈 Keelon Russell and the outlook for Ryan Grubb's offense
🛡️ Why Alabama's defense could be one of the best in college football
🎯 Connor Talty winning the kicking competition
🏥 Latest Alabama injury questions entering Week 1
☠️ Can Alabama avoid the rat poison as a heavy favorite?
🍽️ Keelon Russell taking care of his offensive line
👀 Week Zero college football reactions and what they mean for Alabama

Family, we made it. It's officially East Carolina Week.

We'll hear from Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb, Kane Wommack and Alabama players throughout the week as the Crimson Tide prepares to open the 2026 college football season.

Subscribe to Bama Football on YouTube with Kyle Henderson for daily Alabama football news, analysis, Wake Up Bama, The Drive Home, injury updates and complete game-week coverage.

What is YOUR final Alabama record prediction? Drop it in the comments and help us get today's show over 400 thumbs up!

#AlabamaFootball #RollTide #KalenDeBoer #KeelonRussell #BamaFootball #CollegeFootball

Is Alabama's 2026 roster being seriously underrated? After Colin Cowherd questioned whether the Crimson Tide still has the same caliber of players as programs like Ohio State, Kyle Henderson takes a closer look at what Alabama actually has heading into the season.

On this special Saturday edition of Wake Up Bama, we break down Alabama's loaded 2025 recruiting class, the rapid development of Keelon Russell, Michael Carroll, Dijon Lee, Jackson Lloyd and other young players, plus several three-star evaluations who are already outperforming expectations.

We also discuss whether Keelon Russell has raised Alabama's ceiling from a potential 9-3 season to 11-1, Ty Simpson's outstanding NFL preseason, Lotzeir Brooks' potential breakout season, Trent Seaborn's incredible start to his high school season, Alabama's latest injury updates and Austin Mack continuing to show why he's such a valuable teammate.

Plus, Kyle gives his weekend pick and explains why he's watching Florida State closely before Alabama's Week 3 matchup.

Subscribe to Bama Football on YouTube with Kyle Henderson for daily Alabama football news, analysis, roster updates and game coverage.

#AlabamaFootball #RollTide #BamaFootball #KeelonRussell #KalenDeBoer #CollegeFootball

Alabama football has spent nearly the entire 2026 offseason hearing the doubt surrounding Kalen DeBoer and the Crimson Tide. Now, with game week approaching and Alabama entering its opener against East Carolina as a massive favorite, the conversation has flipped from reverse rat poison to rat poison.On today's Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson breaks down the expectations surrounding Keelon Russell's first start, Alabama's talented but young sophomore class, Devin Tompkins' strong comments about the Crimson Tide defense, Courtney Morgan pushing back on the narrative that Alabama won't spend money, and the pressure Kalen DeBoer faces while following the championship standard established by Nick Saban.Plus, ESPN's upcoming Nick Saban series brings the legendary Alabama coach back into the spotlight as the Crimson Tide prepares to begin the 2026 college football season.Topics include Alabama vs. East Carolina, Keelon Russell, Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb, Alabama's defense, Devin Tompkins, Courtney Morgan, Nick Saban, Alabama recruiting, transfer portal strategy and much more.Subscribe to Bama Football on YouTube with Kyle Henderson for daily Alabama football news, analysis, practice updates and game coverage.#AlabamaFootball #RollTide #BamaFootball #KalenDeBoer #KeelonRussell #NickSaban #CollegeFootball

Alabama football has been hit by the injury bug entering Game Week, with defensive lineman Jeremiah Beaman expected to miss the 2026 season with an ACL injury. But does Alabama have enough defensive depth to withstand the losses?On Thursday's Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson breaks down the latest Alabama injury news involving Beaman, EJ Crowell, AK Dear, Jireh Edwards, Jorden Edmonds, Nick Sherman, Noah Rogers and Lotzeir Brooks.We also discuss sophomore linebacker Luke Metz earning a starting role alongside Caleb Woodson, Kane Wommack's incredible defensive depth, Alabama's loaded secondary and why the Crimson Tide defense could actually be better than it was last season.Plus, Connor Talty and Lorcan Quinn continue their kicking battle, and East Carolina head coach Blake Harrell discusses the challenge of facing new Alabama starting quarterback Keelon Russell.With Alabama favored by more than three touchdowns against East Carolina, has the narrative officially shifted from "reverse rat poison" to actual rat poison?Game Week is almost here.

Ryan Grubb says Alabama starting quarterback Keelon Russell is ahead of schedule entering the 2026 season — including in one of the most important areas for a young quarterback: his pre-snap command.On Wednesday's Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson breaks down Grubb's latest comments on Russell, what they could mean for Alabama's offense, and how the Crimson Tide can build around its talented sophomore QB.We also discuss Rico Scott, Ryan Coleman-Williams, Alabama's loaded wide receiver room, the development of the tight ends, the projected starting offensive line and how Ryan Grubb should attack defenses early this season.Plus, we tackle the uncomfortable question: Are expectations becoming too high for Keelon Russell and Alabama's offense? What happens if the offensive line struggles or the offense again has difficulty establishing an identity?Also covered: the latest Alabama injury developments involving Jireh Edwards, Jorden Edmonds and EJ Crowell, plus the bizarre Class of 2022 eligibility situation and whether Alabama could still add another player.Game week is getting closer.

Kalen DeBoer has officially named Keelon Russell Alabama's starting quarterback, but what comes next for the Crimson Tide and Austin Mack?

On Tuesday's Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson breaks down DeBoer's latest comments on Keelon Russell, why Alabama continues to express confidence in both quarterbacks, and the impressive way Austin Mack responded after learning he would begin the season as QB2.

We also dive into the latest Alabama injury updates involving Noah Rogers, EJ Crowell, AK Dear and Jeremiah Beamon, plus the developing kicking competition, new offensive line clarity involving Javen James and Mal Waldrop, and the possibility of Alabama exploring another roster addition.

With East Carolina approaching, fall camp is over and Alabama is officially entering game mode.

Subscribe to Bama Football on YouTube with Kyle Henderson for daily Alabama football news, analysis, practice updates and Wake Up Bama.

#AlabamaFootball #KeelonRussell #KalenDeBoer #RollTide #BamaFootball

Alabama has its starting quarterback, and now Keelon Russell’s father is providing a behind-the-scenes look at the person, preparation and playing style behind the Crimson Tide’s new QB1.On today’s Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson shares his exclusive conversation with Brian Russell, including how Keelon learned to command Alabama’s huddle, why he spent time practicing play calls in front of a mirror, how he developed beyond the label of a running quarterback, and the NFL-style comparisons his family has heard—including Aaron Rodgers, Robert Griffin III and Randall Cunningham.Brian Russell also revealed what Keelon told him the morning after becoming Alabama’s starting quarterback: “East Carolina is on the clock.”Plus, Alabama received an extremely encouraging practice update Sunday as transfer wide receiver Noah Rogers returned to the field and appeared to be ahead of his original recovery timeline.We break down what Rogers’ return could mean for Keelon Russell, Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, Derek Meadows, Cederian Morgan and Alabama’s 2026 offense.Subscribe to Bama Football on YouTube with Kyle Henderson for Alabama football news, analysis, practice updates and daily Wake Up Bama coverage.

It's official: Keelon Russell is Alabama's starting quarterback. Kalen DeBoer has made his decision, ending one of the biggest quarterback competitions in college football.

On this edition of Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson starts with five facts that immediately change now that Russell is QB1 before examining the biggest questions surrounding Alabama's new starting quarterback.

What will Ryan Grubb's offense look like with Russell? How high is his ceiling? How much patience will Alabama have with a young quarterback? What happens with Austin Mack? And could Russell eventually develop into another first-round NFL quarterback?

Plus, we examine five "what if" scenarios—including what happens if Russell is immediately special, how he'll respond to adversity and whether this decision represents the true beginning of Kalen DeBoer's vision for Alabama football.

The QB competition is over.

Now we find out what No. 12 can do.

#AlabamaFootball #KeelonRussell #KalenDeBoer #RollTide #BamaFootball

Alabama football appears to be getting closer to naming its starting quarterback, and all signs continue pointing toward Keelon Russell.

National college football insider Chris Low expects Russell to be named Alabama's QB1 by early next week, while Kalen DeBoer said after Thursday's second fall-camp scrimmage that the Crimson Tide is moving toward a quarterback decision.

On this Feel Good Friday edition of Wake Up Bama, Kyle Henderson breaks down the latest Keelon Russell vs. Austin Mack intel, what happened during Scrimmage No. 2, why Alabama's offense appears to be trending in the right direction and what DeBoer said about the team's emerging offensive identity.

We also discuss Derek Meadows' continued rise at wide receiver, true freshman running back Traeshawn Brown forcing his way onto the field, the kicking competition between Conor Talty and Lorcan Quinn, Alabama's latest injury updates and East Carolina coach Blake Harrell's comments about the challenge of evaluating quarterbacks before they experience real game contact.

Could Keelon Russell officially become Alabama's starting quarterback next week?

Drop a Roll Tide and give us your confidence level in No. 12!

#AlabamaFootball #RollTide #KeelonRussell #KalenDeBoer #WakeUpBama #BamaFootball