The Alabama Crimson Tide has questions at the quarterback position entering the season for what feels like the fourth straight year, following runs for Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson after Bryce Young departed.

In year three for Kalen DeBoer, he has what is the second truly open battle as he tries to decide which two candidates give his team the best chance to win.

Between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell, it seems like the decision is truly down to the flip of a coin.

There are arguments to be made for both.

Mack has been in the DeBoer system for an extra two years, served as the backup last year, and provided at least a small spark in the Rose Bowl after Simpson went out with an injury.

Russell, meanwhile, is the former five-star sensation, the guy with the higher ceiling that comes along with the lower floor, and if all goes according to plan, is the future of this program.

The question is whether DeBoer wants to go through what will undoubtedly be some growing pains in order to get that future started now, or go with a safer commodity like Mack to give this team steady play at the most important position on the field.

In an ideal world, Mack would seize the job, have a great season and head to the NFL for Russell to take over in 2027. The presence of the transfer portal is anything but ideal though, and Russell could depart if he feels he could start elsewhere.

At the end of the day, this is going to be a young team who may not be ready to win a national title until 2027 anyway, but in a spot where coaches are fired at the drop of a hat, DeBoer is going to put the guy out there who gives them the best shot at doing that right now.

Based on the loyalty he has shown guys in the past, it seems like Mack would be the more logical and predictable choice, but the potential of Russell — the top player in the nation coming out of high school — is tantalizing.

The battle will likely go down right to the end of fall camp and possibly even days before the start of the season, or, if it’s that close, not be decided until after the first game.

Regardless, fans are going to keep asking the question throughout the summer, and DeBoer is running out of time to answer it.