Nick Saban doesn't name starting quarterbacks before the season. He did, however, identify the two still competing for the top job.

Saban on Monday said is between junior Cooper Bateman and redshirt freshman Blake Barnett. Those are the two who will get the snaps entering the USC game Saturday.

"That's the way it's going to be for right now," Saban said.

True freshman Jalen Hurts had been competing for time as well after David Cornwell was limited by injury this August.

Bateman has the most experience as the group, earning a start last September against Ole Miss. Barnett has emerged this August as Saban said he's brought improved confidence to the competition. He's also added size since arriving last spring as a five-star recruit from Southern California.

"He's got a little better knowledge of the offense and he's more confident in what he's doing," Saban said. "He's bigger and stronger and throwing the ball effectively. So one of the strengths on our team, I feel, is the receivers.

"And we want to continue to try to have an offense that can create explosive plays through those guys so Blake has really been an effective passer for us so we want to continue to try to develop him and see where his knowledge and experience will take him, relative to whether we feel like he can be a winning player at that position or not."

Bateman is the only one of the group who's played in a game. Saban said he's not quite sure how the others would look when the lights come on.

"Cooper has played some in a game here, which I think that experience is certainly a benefit to him," Saban said, "but I don't know how these other guys are going to play in a game. Some of these guys go in a game and they play a lot better.