Forget quarterback drama. The real battle in Alabama? An offensive line desperate to reclaim dominance and pave the way for a renewed rushing attack.
Coming into the spring, many Alabama fans were interested in the quarterback battle between Austin Mack and Keelon Russell.
Either Mack or Russell will earn the right to take over for Ty Simpson, set to be drafted in the NFL later this month.
Simpson could be taken late on Day 1 or early on Day 2 in the 2026 NFL Draft. He did a lot for the Crimson Tide last year.
While the battle between Mack and Russell is important, the Crimson Tide have other issues pressing this offseason.
Frankly, the running game was so bad last season it didn't matter who was under center in the SEC Championship Game or College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl.
Chip Patterson of CBS Sports thinks the battle to start on the offensive line will be the most important choice Alabama's coaching staff makes before the fall.
The offensive line struggled to run block, and the unit is going its best player, Kadyn Proctor, to the draft. Patterson noted Michael Carroll is the only starter returning from last season.
Jackson Lloyd could be the only known starter in the spring.
"Carroll's versatility could allow him to play guard or tackle on the right side, leaving the offensive staff with several ways to mix and match a group of about 7-8 players who are looking to raise the standard for line play in Tuscaloosa," Patterson wrote.
"The inability to block and establish the run up front was an Achilles heel that put Ty Simpson in some tough spots last year, so the hope is that the competition to fill spots on a re-tooled line will produce more advantageous situations for whoever wins the quarterback battle heading into Week 1 against ECU."
The offensive line is one of the main reasons it's hard to predict how well the Crimson Tide will do this fall. The unit wasn't great last season, and it isn't clear if things have been fixed this offseason.
With a new quarterback under center, Alabama will need its offensive line to generate running lanes for its running backs if it hopes to compete in the CFP.