Alabama Keeping Their Starting Quarterback Under Wraps

Alabama coach Nick Saban didn’t reveal his No. 1 quarterback this week or any other starter for that matter.

Saban canceled the annual opening week depth chart reveal party heading into the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide’s Saturday night debut against Middle Tennessee State. It’s no surprise that he wanted to keep the quarterback pecking order under wraps.

Saban will let everyone know … right about game time. It’s been a battle among 2022 backup Jalen Milroe, former five-star recruit Ty Simpson and Notre Dame transfer Tyler Buchner. They are all vying to replace No. 1 NFL draft pick Bryce Young.

One thing that Saban has made clear: He who starts first isn’t guaranteed of starting last. That goes for every position, and thus his broken tradition of letting staffers distribute that pesky piece of paper just before his noon news conference on Monday, which he says can be a distraction for some players.

“I think most of the players on our team know who should start in the game and who shouldn’t start,” Saban said. “But that’s something that they do day to day in terms of the way they compete and the way they play. And nobody’s entitled to play just because we put it on a piece of paper and say this is the way it is today.”

Alabama is a nearly 40-point favorite in this game, according to FanDuel Sportsbook with a showdown looming next week against No. 11 Texas. Middle Tennessee went 8-5 last season and won its last four games.

“They’ve got a lot of good players but we’ve got a lot of good players too,” Blue Raiders coach Rick Stockstill said. “I believe in our team.”

WHO’S THE QB?

Categories: Sports – Alabama Crimson Tide, Sports – Local Sports News