Alabama coach Nick Saban took his time in his opening remarks at SEC Media Days to address the biggest question heading into the 2018 college football season.
"I think the number one thing that you will want to talk about is the quarterback controversy that you'd love to create, that you've already created, that you will continue to create, and I will tell you the same thing exists there," Saban said. "It's still to be determined as to who is going to play quarterback for Alabama."
MORE: Breaking down Alabama's QBs
Well, Tua Tagovailoa had a lot to do with this controversy after leading the Crimson Tide to a second-half comeback in a 26-23 victory against Georgia in the College Football Playoff championship game. Jalen Hurts, who is 26-2 as a starter the last two season, is the other half of that equation. That prompts seven questions — ones Saban won't answer — as the defending national champions open fall camp.
And that headline won't be going away any time soon. Hurts made headlines on Saturday at Alabama practice by saying the situation is "uncontrollable."
👀👀👀👀@JalenHurts: "No one came up to me the whole spring, coaches included, no one asked me how I felt. No one asked me what was on my mind. ... Now when we're trying to handle the situation now, for me it's kinda late. It's too late. The narrative has already been created." pic.twitter.com/adJS7UxmdL
— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) August 4, 2018
Who created this controversy again? That's the environment in Tuscaloosa right now.
Can Jalen Hurts win the job?
Yes, and it wouldn't be a complete surprise if he started early in the season. If Tagovailoa is being over-hyped for the second half against Georgia, then Hurts is being penalized too much. He still has 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions the last two years. He has averaged 904.5 yards and 10.5 rushing touchdowns in two years as a starter.
He doesn't turn the ball over — a big plus in Saban's offense — but the expectations are he would improve as an overall passer. That didn't happen, either in 2017 or in the spring game, where Saban verbally critiqued Hurts' passing ability.
"I expected a huge jump from Jalen last year," SEC Network analyst Greg McElroy said of Hurts. "That jump didn't transpire."
He will have to be better in 2018 if he wants to start. McElroy, however, thinks Hurts is being criticized too much.
"People say he's not an NFL quarterback," McElroy said. "How do you know? He (was a) freaking sophomore. I didn't play until my fourth year and couldn't have played until my fourth year because I was a developmental player. You can improve past your freshman year."
Tagovailoa missed most of spring practice because of injuries, too.
MORE: Hurts headlines SN's unpopular opinions
Can Tagovailoa handle the hype?
You saw the skill set and tantalizing playmaking ability in two quarters against Georgia. Tagovailoa etched his name into Alabama lore with the game-winning touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith on second-and-26. That will never be forgotten.
The upside for Tagovailoa is tremendous. He's also hyped because he's a little different than Saban's previous championship quarterbacks.
"You watch at practice the way the players navigate toward him, it's not really a knock on Jalen — he's a good leader, too, but a complete different leader than Tua," McElroy said. "He's focused on his position, and Tua is going crazy after every pass. Two completely different styles."
It's a small sample, but Tagovailoa averaged a touchdown once every seven passing attempts last season. It's that tease — for what could be Saban's most-explosive offensive yet — that gives Tagovailoa control of the starting job.
MORE: What's next for Hurts at Alabama?
Will both Hurts and Tagovailoa play?
Saban laid out what fall camp might look like a little later in his news conference at SEC Media Days.
"I think it's our job to give both players a very fair opportunity to have a chance to win the team at their position," Saban said. "Both are capable. We'll create a role for one or both of those guys on our team."
Don't be surprised if both play in the opener against Louisville. Saban has done this in the past when there isn't a clear-cut starter, but the difference is he's dealing with arguably his two most talented quarterbacks. This isn't Jacob Coker vs. Blake Sims or even Coker vs. Cooper Bateman. Saban is dealing with a two-year starter on one hand and a potential future first-round NFL Draft pick on the other. It's not going to be easy to keep both quarterbacks happy.
Will either Hurts or Tagovailoa one transfer?
"Transfer" has been mentioned with both quarterbacks in the offseason. Former Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin revealed Tagovailoa considered transferring last season during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Hurts' father, Averion Hurts, told Bleacher Report his son would be the "biggest free agent in college football history" if he doesn't win the starting job.
One of the quarterbacks could transfer, but Hurts reportedly told Saban he's staying at least for this season, and the NCAA's new redshirt rule could be a factor here. Hurts could either use that or take advantage of being a graduate transfer after the 2018 season if he doesn't start. Tagovailoa still has the option to transfer, and it wouldn't be the first time it happened at Alabama.
Remember, Blake Barnett started the opener against USC in 2016, lost the starting job to Hurts and transferred midseason.
Our best guess? Both quarterbacks play this season and one transfers — probably Hurts — after this season.
MORE: All eyes on Jalen Hurts after spring
How does Bama's QB battle play out?
It's reminiscent in some ways of what Ohio State coach Urban Meyer had with Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones in 2015. Meyer moved Miller to receiver and started Jones, who led the national championship run in 2014, then turned to Barrett down the stretch.
Ohio State finished 12-1, but that one loss kept them out of the College Football Playoff. Meyer handled that situation right, too, but it won't be looked at in that way. That's the pressure Saban faces in this situation with two capable quarterbacks. Hurts led Alabama to the championship game each of the last two seasons, and Tagovailoa finished the job. That's the nature of the position.
The difference here is Tagovailoa is a good bet to take over the starting role when Alabama needs to have a quarterback who better commands the passing game. Both likely will play in the first month of the season, and it's possible Saban could work a system with new offensive coordinator Mike Locksley in which both guys will play in every game.
We'll guess that Tagovailoa is the quarterback who takes control of that job, and Hurts exits as a graduate transfer after the season. That's the popular opinion — not really a controversy and definitely not a sure thing.
Saban will answer that question in due time. Just don't expect to hear any substantial clues leading up to the opener against Louisville on Sept. 1.
"I love both guys," Saban said. "They're both really good competitors. They are really good people. They are good leaders. They both make great contribution to our team. They are very well liked. So somebody's got to win the team, and however these guys can help the team, I hope they are both committed to staying and doing that."
