While America was watching Alabama obliterate USC on college football’s opening Saturday, I was watching Nick Saban continue to evolve.
The first evolution came early with his announcement of Blake Barnett as the starting quarterback. This decision stunned me. I was convinced that Cooper Bateman would start, primarily based on his greater experience. That’s exactly the guy Saban usually goes with initially.
The 64-year-old Saban deciding to play both Barnett and freshman Jalen Hurts over Bateman is the example I’m focused on. Barnett’s first possession was forgettable. He had an incomplete pass and was sacked.