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Top Spring Practice QB Storylines of 2026

Originally posted on Mike Farrell Sports
By Mark Pszonak | Last updated Feb 4, 2026 6:41 AM ET

Indiana is still enjoying the afterglow of winning the National Championship, but for other programs all of their focus is on the start of spring practice. As usual, quarterbacks will monopolize the publicity during the spring, with several interesting storylines leading the way. Here are three that will be watched closely during the spring:

Development of Bryce Underwood

Underwood received substantial publicity before ever playing a game at Michigan, mostly due to his lucrative NIL contract. Because of that, expectations were very high that he would perform at a level deserving of the contract, despite only being a true freshman. However, the result was an 11 touchdown, nine interception season that left fans wondering if Underwood was worth all the hype. Now he is preparing for his second season, with a new head coach, Kyle Whittingham and offensive coordinator, Jason Beck. Fans are hoping that this will accelerate his development. The spring will be the start of this process for Underwood.

Alabama: Austin Mack vs. Keelon Russell

With Ty Simpson opting for the NFL Draft, Alabama will suddenly be dealing with one of the more intriguing quarterback battles of the offseason. Luckily for the Tide, they have two quality candidates, Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.

While it is unlikely that a starter will be named during the spring, it will give one of the two players an early advantage. Mack is considered the early favorite because he has spent multiple years in the offensive system. He also served as Simpson’s backup last season and gained valuable experience when Simpson was injured during the Rose Bowl. As for Russell, despite Mack’s resume, he has more buzz despite his lack of experience. The former five-star Class of 2025 recruit redshirted but many believe he can overtake Mack this offseason.

The most likely scenario is that Mack will start, with Russell being groomed for one more season, but that is far from a done deal.

Jan 1, 2026; Pasadena, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Austin Mack (10) throws a pass against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half of the 2026 Rose Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Who Will Step Up at Florida State?

Thomas Castellanos ran out of eligibility and Brock Glenn and Luke Kromenhoek transferred, leaving a huge question mark at the quarterback position in Tallahassee. Considering this is a vital season for head coach Mike Norvell’s future at Florida State, it makes it an even more important decision.

As of today, the projected starter is transfer Ashton Daniels (Auburn), who does bring dual-threat experience to the table. He has passed for 4,783 yards and rushed for 1,397 yards during his 37 collegiate games. The glaring issue is that his career touchdown/interception ration is 24/22. Daniels’ main competition will come from Kevin Sperry, who played in three games during his true freshman season in 2025. He does have the advantage of being in the system for a season, but that went into limbo a bit when offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn suddenly retired on Tuesday. Tim Harris Jr. has taken over, which shouldn’t create too much change, but he is also sure to add some of his own wrinkles to the offense.

The wildcard in all of this will be JUCO signee Malachi Marshall. But he won’t arrive until the summer, which will make his job of overtaking Daniels and Sperry much more difficult.

This article first appeared on Mike Farrell Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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