CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Nick Saban started this week’s college football Saturday in an emphatic, and somewhat surprising, way.

ESPN’s College GameDay did a segment with its panel answering a variety of questions. Saban’s prompt centered around quarterback play, asking him who the best signal-caller in the nation was.

His answer started in a safe direction.

“John Mateer at Oklahoma has been injured,” Saban said, live from Eugene, Oregon. “If he’s healthy, he has the opportunity maybe to be that. But I think these two quarterbacks playing here today — Dante Moore and Fernando Mendoza — both have the opportunity to be the No. 1 quarterback.”

Then, he swerved, much to the displeasure of the Oregon faithful.

“Ohio State’s quarterback, Julian Sayin , is completing 80% of his passes,” Saban sa

See Full Page