Paul Finebaum expects Jalen Milroe to start at quarterback for Alabama

Alabama head coach Nick Saban has yet to name a starting quarterback, but ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum believes he knows who will be under center when the Crimson Tide host Middle Tennessee to open the 2023 season.

Finebaum appeared on the McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning show on Monday and shared his prediction.

“It seems to me that Jalen Milroe is going to be the starter. I have heard nothing that would put that in dispute,” Finebaum said.

Milroe is battling with Tyler Buchner, Ty Simpson and Dylan Lonergan for the starting job, and apparently there isn’t a quarterback who has separated from the rest at this point.

With that said, Finebaum believes the true battle is for the No. 2 spot, not the starting job.

“I think he’s trying to milk this thing for everything that it’s worth,” Finebaum said. “But I think ultimately, though, the question is who’s the No. 2 quarterback? And what does that say about Alabama? I think what Nick Saban has done is he’s given the media and he’s given talk shows a gift. You can legitimately go out there and say anything you want.”

Milroe is back for his redshirt sophomore season at Alabama. He passed for 297 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 263 yards and one score last year. He also threw three interceptions.

Buchner transferred to Alabama this offseason, after spending two seasons at Notre Dame. He played in 13 games and started three during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Simpson is a redshirt freshman who attempted five passes last year, while Lonergan is a true freshman who has yet to appear in a game.

Without a proven quarterback and with no one separating during preseason camp, Finebaum believes it’s fair to think the 2023 Alabama season could go a number of different ways.

“You can say what I just got through saying – an elite defense can bail this team out. Or you can say as confusing as things are, this is a club that could lose three games,” Finebaum said. “So I think there is an unknown. I don’t think he is playing games, though. I mean he may have that evil genius grin coming off of his press conferences, but I don’t think you play your fourth-string quarterback in the scrimmage if you’re not still searching for something.”

Alabama needs to find its best quarterback in a hurry as the Crimson Tide will face a preseason top 15 team in Texas in Week 2 of the season.