Nick Saban to Alabama quarterbacks: 'Force me to play you'

Alabama had its first scrimmage on Saturday despite being just the third padded practice of the fall. Even so, not too much more information on the quarterback battle has come from head coach Nick Saban. He is not ready to name a starter or even hint at who has potentially emerged from the group.

Instead, Saban revealed the message all three of Tyler Buchner, Jalen Milroe, and Ty Simpson are receiving throughout the process. The coaches do not have a decision to make according to Saban, the quarterbacks do. Somebody needs to make it impossible for the Alabama offensive staff to keep them off the bench.

“What I tell the quarterbacks is it’s not up to the coaches,” Saban said. “You’re looking over your shoulder to see if a coach is going to do this or that? How be you forcing me to play you? Force us to play you. When you get your reps in, you get a chance to play, you play so good we don’t have any chance but to play you rather than worrying about all this other stuff.”

A lot has been made of the decision ahead for Saban. In a crucial year for the program, getting the quarterback right could be the difference between national title No. 7 under Saban or potentially missing the College Football Playoff once again.

Yes, Saban ultimately has to make a choice alongside offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. But pressure has been shifted to the quarterbacks for the time being. Saban is calling on Buchner, Milroe, or Simpson to step up and make his life a whole lot easier.

Milroe and Simpson were not able to do so after spring practice. Alabama felt the need to go out and get Buchner via Notre Dame and the NCAA transfer portal.

As for the recent fall scrimmage, Saban did not distribute too much information. No stats were given, with Saban saying he was “not a stats guy.” Instead, he wanted to get back to the facilities and review the film. Based on his Tuesday evening answer, there must have not been any separation created from any of the three.

Sept. 2 is the season opener against Middle Tennessee State. The following week, Texas travels to Tuscaloosa for one of college football’s premier nonconference games.

Extending the quarterback competition into the season could be what winds up happening in Tuscaloosa, albeit, it could be a risky decision. For the first time in quite a few years, Saban is going to not have a definite answer at quarterback.