It could be awkward. It probably should be awkward. But for Evan Prater and Ben Bryant, it's not.
The two University of Cincinnati quarterbacks are engaged in a friendly yet uber-competitive battle to see who will replace NFL-bound Desmond Ridder as the Bearcats' starting quarterback.
It's a battle that started before Cincinnati opened spring camp earlier this month, and it's a battle that will likely wage on well into fall camp at Higher Ground before the two-time defending American Athletic Conference champions open the 2022 season Sept. 3 at Arkansas.
The two close friends watched as Ridder led the program to unprecedented heights.